— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —
We just entered Advent, Vinod and his family arrived in Freiburg ready to enter a new chapter in their and our lives, Germany’s government is in transition, and SARS CoV2 is still around and with the new variant we are eagerly awaiting the next decisions by our governments how to best deal with another pre-Christmas season with the next lockdown hanging over our heads. It is again a time of waiting.
Waiting can be such a different experience. It can be filled with anxiety due to the uncertainty what may come or even with fear of the upcoming devastation. It must have been such a disappointment when all the people preparing for the Christmas markets around this area had to shut down their booths in literally the last minute. Nothing is worse than hope deferred.
Like the patient waiting for the final verdict on the biopsy sent for pathology, the parent for the child supposed to return home from the party at ten o’clock, the verdict whether your asylum was granted or whether you received the job after applying so many times. When will be finally be able to celebrate again as we did before COVID19?
So how can Advent, the time of waiting be an enriching time? Looking at the candle in the dark room you can worry that also this light will soon extinguish or you can believe that it is the foreteller of a bright day to come.
The time of waiting for the Messiah in the Old Testament was filled with lows and highs, with exile and rescue and the promise of the day the Messiah would come to restore Israel.
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel.
Luke 2:25
So what was the difference in Simeon’s waiting? He was eagerly waiting. To wait eagerly it requires trust, in the promise, perseverance, not to give up to go to the temple despite the many setbacks, and expectancy, that something great will come.
The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple.
Luke 2:25-27
What a promise and what a faith, to show up every day at the temple and return home without the sight of the Messiah, but that one day he went again and recognized what only so few could see:
He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
Luke 2:28-32
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Lord, fill us with your Spirit, so that we can eagerly await your coming in this challenging time. Let us trust in your promise you have given us through your son that one day we will be in your presence. Give us your peace and reassurance so that we can face with a child-like expectancy the ongoing challenges of these days may these be pandemic or very personal.
We pray this in your Son’s name
Amen.
The ACF Midweek Meditations
are written by a diverse group of our church members with the intention to seek God’s fingerprints in our lives. They range from somber to humorous and are inspired by all facets of live and faith. Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, they reflect a wide range of Christian backgrounds and spiritualities.
Each week’s text portrays the individual viewpoint of its author. They might not always resonate with everyone, and are not meant to be understood as representing the Anglican Church Freiburg as a whole. Yet, as a church that is aiming to ‘Build a Community of Grace’ we seek to practice learning from and listening to one another.
We pray that these humble ponderings add a small spark of blessing to your week.
Freiburg Anglican Church 
Leave a Reply