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Teach me good judgement and knowledge - Meditation for Wednesday of Advent III

Advent wreath with three candles lit.

The readings assigned for today focus in large part on God’s judgment of those who do not follow God’s commandments and requirements for the way we must live.  We can find this a bit disturbing during this period of Advent, as we are filled with the hope and joy of the birth of Jesus.

John calls out that “one more powerful than I is coming.”  Yet even his proclamation is tinged with a fear that Jesus will exact judgment from those who stray from his insistence on our changing the focus of our lives.  Isaiah pronounces judgment on those who are arrogant and those who oppress people who are weaker than they.  False prophets will be punished, according to 2 Peter. 

Yet the Psalmist acknowledges that God’s “promise gives me life” even as he asks God to “teach me good judgement and knowledge.”

Teach me good judgement and knowledge.

We are a polarized nation today.  We need to acknowledge, however, that we have been polarized for many years, through the times of many leaders.  The more we feel that we are right and the others are wrong, the more it will lead to further polarization and distress.

The Rev Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote of the importance of following God and God’s commandments, of following how Jesus taught us to worship God but, at the same time, to understand that our responsibilities go far beyond simply worshiping.  There is a fine line in many of the issues that keep us apart today.  It is up to the leaders of today—all of us, inside and outside the walls of our churches—to work together and move ahead on a common journey.  Jesus calls us to do that.  “Peace and social justice are such things, as is Christ himself,” says Bonhoeffer.

As we continue our waiting during this period of Advent, waiting for the renewal—and challenges—that Jesus brings to us, let us pray that we can work together for peace and social justice.  May we see Christ himself as the one that binds us together and leads us to a new future of journeying together in community.

The readings for Wednesday of Advent III are Psalm 119:49-72, Isa. 9:8-17, 2 Pet. 2:1-10a, and Mark 1:1-8.

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