A Beautiful Interruption
Dr Kate Harrison Brennan launches our Advent series with a reflection on Christ interrupting our world in a beautiful, political and dramatic way.
Wiradjuri man Adam Gowen finds beauty in the unexpected everyday moments where we can be surprised and delighted by God's goodness.
Adam Gowen is a Wiradjuri man living on Yuin country who is passionate about faith, culture, identity, instruments, and chooks. Adam and his wife Lisa have three wonderful kids whom they adore.
Today's reading is Luke 1:39-45
Our senses are the way we perceive and experience the world around us. Combined with our memories, they help us interpret what is happening to, in and around us. Moments of surprise happen when we experience something unexpected. The shock of cold as your skin hits the water of the river you've just jumped into; the beauty of a view from a mountain top after the journey to get there; the taste of a particularly delicious strawberry as you sink your teeth into it; the smell of your grandma’s cooking; the sound of children laughing together. On some level these things can be anticipated. But we are surprised when the experience of them is more intense, or is different to our expectations.
The coming of Jesus as a baby was foretold and there were people who were anticipating a Messiah. However, the experience of him coming was vastly different to the expectations that had been built. How can we appropriately anticipate Jesus as we look to his return? Rather than external form, method, knowledge, and information, we should aim to build expectation and hope for Jesus in our spirits.
We read in Luke’s gospel that as Mary (who was carrying Jesus) greets Elizabeth, the baby John leaps with joy and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, prompting an outpouring of prophecy. This was not only a natural experience, but something deeper. This was a spiritual encounter.
It reminds me of last year, when I was taking my son to school one day. We had a little bit of extra time on our hands (a miracle in itself) so I took him down to a little walking trail by an inlet and we sat. Sometimes when I’m feeling adventurous I try to get my kids to sit in silence (a feat that is seldom accomplished). My hope is to plant a small seed that would develop within them a capacity to be still and know that God is God. We concentrate on what we can perceive – sounds, smells, sights, mostly environmental things. As we sat in silence that day, a baby bandicoot hopped out and circled us. It was something extraordinary – a moment where we were surprised and delighted by the beauty of the unexpected – in some ways similar to Elizabeth seeing Mary.
For me the spiritual and the temporal are inextricably linked. I love seeing God’s glory reflected in his creation and this moment was one where my son and I experienced a natural occurrence that reminded us of God’s goodness. As we reflect on the birth of the Messiah this Advent, and as we prepare our homes and hearts, may we experience the unexpected beauty he loves to compose. As we anticipate with our spirits and as we carry Jesus into all the situations we encounter, may something resonate in others as we express the hope and joy we have as we play our part in seeing his purpose outworked.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
Dr Kate Harrison Brennan launches our Advent series with a reflection on Christ interrupting our world in a beautiful, political and dramatic way.
Andy Abey remembers her time in Bethlehem visiting the Church of the Nativity, and reflects on the humility of Jesus' arrival.
Jessica Smith resonates with Isaiah's longing for an answer when God seems so far away, so absent – and finds a beautiful answer in Christ.
Greg Clarke, CEO of Bible Society, is re-learning to anticipate this season from an unexpected teacher – his a four year-old child.
Eliza Spencer rediscovers through Ezekiel the road to a new spirit, a new heart – replacing a heart of stone for one of justice and hope.
Dave Hack leaves behind the city lights of Perth for a week on the rough ocean, where he finds hope and peace in unexpected places.
Rev Philemon Akao from Solomon Islands shares about how fire across Melanesia draws us together, and sends us out.
Leonie Quayle discovers an unexpectedly beautiful deeper meaning behind one of her favourite Christmas carols.
For Brooke Prentis the unexpected beauty of the Grasstree symbolises the versatility, strength, and longevity of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders.
Steve Bevis reflects on what he's learnt from the young Aboriginal people in Alice Springs who gather together at 'The Meeting Place'.
Melinda Dwight remembers her trip to Israel with leaders from many denominations, and invites us to lower our walls and set longer tables to share with many.
Three years ago Louisa Hope survived the Sydney Siege. Today she shares her story of faith, hope, reconciliation to help heal the divides in our country.
Tim Middlemiss reflects on the joy of becoming a new dad, and invites us to set our hearts on the future hope promised in Malachi.
Dr Robyn Wrigley-Carr reimagines Zechariah's silence as an unexpected gift, creating space hold the wonder of what God was doing through their family.
Dr Ross Clifford invites us to open our eyes this season to God's supernatural movements, and to the angelic encounters around us that herald God's goodness.
Wiradjuri man Adam Gowen finds beauty in the unexpected everyday moments where we can be surprised and delighted by God's goodness.
God’s Squad member Steve Barrington invites us to sing with Mary's song of revolution and justice this Advent.
Sister Susan Connelly hears the voice of John the Baptist through a friend, and calls us to the uncomfortable Christianity of the stable and the cross.
Jan Amelink reflects on journeying through a difficult year, yet finding unexpected meaning and hope through it, through the voices of close and faithful friends.
Jon Owen remembers an unexpected Christmas when a pregnant Mary and Joseph showed up at his front door. Literally.
Richard Quadrio went from decades ministering in a church, to serving in the Royal Australian Navy as a Chaplain where he found God in unexpected places.
Gershon Nimbalker finds in the birth of Jesus an unexpected revolution of solidarity, sacrifice and vulnerability, and challenges us to go and do likewise.
Bree Mills finds hope this Advent in the expectation and perseverance of Simeon and Anna as they prophesy over the life of Jesus mending the brokenness of this world.
Nicholas Alexander anticipates the unexpected joy of letting go and letting God being in control.
Scott Sanders closes our Advent series by celebrating the beauty of diversity, and the opportunity for us to draw near to those God's calls us together with in beauty, generosity and justice.