Fourth Monday of Advent
– You can ponder on the picture. For a method of praying with pictures click button below.
– You can pray on the words of Scripture. For methods of praying with scripture click button below.
– You can follow the suggestions in the daily ‘Reflection’.
– You can listen to the music
Today’s Scripture
Luke 1:57-66 ESV
The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, ‘No; he shall be called John.’ And they said to her, ‘None of your relatives is called by this name.’ And they made signs to his father, enquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbours. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, ‘What then will this child be?’ For the hand of the Lord was with him.
Reflection
Elizabeth and Zechariah went against expectation by giving John a name that was new, evoking a sense that he would be someone who would ‘break the mould’.
What is your sense of the expectations other people have of you, or you have of yourself?
Is there anything you wish to challenge or be free of?
As you look over your life consider times when you have felt your most true self.
When you think about the future, ask God for what you need in order to be renewed in the ways you most need. God has called you by name and you are utterly unique. Listen to God’s call for you.
Today’s Music
Take this moment · Siskin Green
O Immanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Saviour. O come and save us, Lord our God.
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