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BISHOP'S OFFICE

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” - Luke 2:10-11 (NRSVUE)

Our journey from Advent to Christmas is a significant and symbolic journey of waiting and longing. Our waiting is not a stagnant waiting, but an active waiting that rests in the anticipated movement of God. It is a time of being still to watch with a sense of wonder, to listen with a fervent heart, and to voice our deepest longings being ever mindful of how God’s love, peace, hope, and joy are being manifested among us … in unexpected circumstances, in unexpected places and, yes, through unexpected people. The Advent journey prepares us to be more aware of God’s activity in our lives and in the world.

In this holy season and in every season, we recognize that God is always coming towards us, being incarnated among us, in the ordinariness of our lives … in the beautiful places, the broken places and the barren places … and God comes and meets us in those spaces and circumstances where we need to experience God the most. God is always working for good, and nothing is ever wasted in our lives.

God comes towards us shining light into the darkness, healing the broken places in our lives and in the world, comforting those who are hurting, liberating the oppressed, and bringing good news to the poor and marginalized. The most extraordinary revelation, manifestation and embodiment of God’s love and light is the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ … who is the LIGHT and through whom we can have a relentless hope, experience deep peace, be loved unconditionally, and have unspeakable joy.

God’s love and light continue to come and to be manifested in and through our lives each and every day as we embody the love and light of Christ. Every act of kindness, every word of encouragement, every prayer or blessing, every expression of love and every act of justice that we do in Jesus’ name and for God’s glory bring more of God’s light, love, hope, and peace into the world.

This journey of waiting and longing reminds us that God is always coming towards us to love us, to bless us, and to surprise us. No matter what we are waiting for and are longing for, we can trust God to be faithful and to supply all our needs. We can pray in faith asking God to do it again, and then over and over again. We can pray to God, who incarnates, to let the love of Christ rule and reign in our hearts and in this hurting world. We can ask God to surprise us and birth something new that will bring about healing and transformation. We can ask God to let love, hope, peace, and joy be on display in our lives. And to let God’s peace and power be manifested, made visible for all humanity to see. May it be so!

Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas,

Bishop Tracy S. Malone