Advent 2023

Week 1 - Hope

 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)

A few years ago, I learned the story of St. Lucy, a girl who was martyred in the 4th century.

Lucy, or “the light,” was offered in marriage to a nobleman at the age of 13, but she refused, having consecrated herself to Christ with the intention of giving away her dowry to the poor.

Her sentence for disobedience was to work in a brothel, but reportedly, when her captors came for her, she could not be carried away.  She was given a second sentence, to be burned at the stake, but her accusers could not accomplish this either. Ultimately, she was killed by the sword.

Tradition teaches that Lucy, a follower of Christ, carried food to other early Christians who were hiding in the catacombs. She wore a wreath crown lit with candles on her head to light her way. It is said that she devised the wreath with the candles atop because she did not want to waste the capacity of her arms and hands. Instead of using a hand to carry a lantern or torch into the caves and tunnels, she would wear the wreath and deliver as much nourishment as she could with each trip, filling her arms with food.

She carried the light of love. And now, she is venerated and celebrated around the world as a symbol of hope. Her feast day is December 13. 

Since I learned her story, I think about St. Lucy every Advent season. She inspires me—inspires us all—to be a harbinger of light. Isn’t it a beautiful image to envision walking around with candles aflame, lighting the darkness, even as both hands are free to do the busy work of serving?

That is the desire of my heart—to be like St. Lucy—even as I feel pressed on all sides, and even though it requires the repeated and continual surrender of my flesh, my earthly body, and selfish desires. Because when I feel pressed, crushed, threatened, my natural desire is to conserve, withdraw, and hide, to protect what is “mine,” to hold on tightly. Instead, God calls me to let go, to free my hands, to use them to carry more and more grace into the darkness.

Hope is never earned or claimed or grasped. Hope cannot be found by holding on tightly. It can only be received by letting go, by opening to what might be rather than clinging to what is.   

Prayer

Light of the world, place your light on our heads and in our hearts, and empty our hands that we may carry and share more and more of your love and grace. Amen.

Today’s devotional was written by Greta Smith and read by Sally Stovall.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.