Today is the Second Sunday of the Advent season and during worship, we will light the second candle on our Advent wreath. This second candle reminds us of the night Mary and Joseph could not find a room in Bethlehem and had to find light and warmth in the stable. Luke's gospel records that event with these words. "While they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."
Where have you found light and warmth during these days of Advent? Who has welcomed you with open arms and cared for you? To whom have you extended light and warmth? To whom have you extended a warm welcome? As we recall the hospitality of those who welcome and cared for Mary and Joseph, perhaps we will not only want to offer a prayer of thanks for those who have welcomed us but also seek to take advantage of those opportunities which come our way through which we can welcome and care for others.
Prayer:
O Lord, we thank you for those who have welcomed and cared for us in our times of need. Open our eyes and our hearts, we pray, that we might not only see the needs of those around us, but that we will also be moved with compassion to extend our own welcome to them and seek to attend to their needs. Amen.
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