Thought for Today

by Revd Mandy Cartwright

3rd December 2023 - 1st Sunday of Advent

Advent invites us into an adventure of hopefulness and expectation of something new and good. The word Advent means coming or arrival, and yes, we do look forward to the birth of Jesus at Christmas, but what do we really hope for? In the first week, we think about the Patriarchs (and dare I say Matriarchs as well), who began the foundations of our faith. These men and women left all that was familiar and set out for where they didn’t know. They welcomed strangers in the desert and thereby entertained angels. They were prepared to give up everything they held dear, and they wrestled with God. They were flawed and they made mistakes, but they encountered the living God and they let that encounter make a difference to their lives.

This week, let’s make some time to pause, be quiet and still and think about the beginnings of our faith. I wonder if God will call us in that still quietness to take a step of faith into something new, to give up something we don’t think we can live without, to welcome strangers or to wrestle with our idea of God.

Have a very good Advent.