Advent 2023

Week 3 - Peace

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. (Luke 2: 1-7)

“Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!” These words echoed in my head this past spring as I was fortunate to have traveled to Israel.  One of the most memorable places was Bethlehem, which, of course, now is neither the “little town” nor “lying still” as in the carol we love to sing. It is a bustling, diverse city.

However, as others can witness, kneeling to touch the star located in the Church of the Nativity, where tradition says Christ was born, is humbling and standing in “Shepherd’s field” stirs your imagination as you gaze upward.

While it is not the small, quaint village imagined in my childhood or often depicted in art, it still gave me new eyes and tugged at my heart. I felt different there.

Israel is a place sacred to several religions and many feel different and find solace there. 

How sad that we cannot also find peace.  

Prayer

Lord, you sent your Son into a troubled world and the world did not know him. As we experience another Advent, our world is still troubled. Please help us see Bethlehem and Christ’s coming with new eyes. Help our hearts to feel that tug and be changed. Indeed, may the world feel that and find peace. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Susan Daves.

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