Advent Devotional for December 13th

"The Assurance to Joseph" by Pedro Berruguete (Spanish, 1450-1504)

"Her husband Jospeh, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'" - Matthew 1:19-21

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"One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting their bad advice."

- Mary Oliver, The Journey

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Trying to see the world the way God sees it is difficult. It is easier to devalue our faith and trust by placing them in things we can see and touch. But faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.

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Lord God, show me the barriers I have erected that keep you at a distance. Amen.

(St. Martin-in-the-Fields 2055 Advent Devotional)