Advent Devotion Week 1 Day 2
Waiting, Pregnant for God, and Romans 8:19-23
The second article in a series of daily Advent devotions explores a theme of waiting for God for Week 1, Day 2 of Advent. Use the exercise individually or with a group.
Step 1: Read Romans 8:19-23.
Step 2: Read the following reflection on the Romans passage, Moaning and Groaning for God.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves..." writes Paul in Romans (8:22,23).
Any pregnant woman can describe the sensation of labor pains, how uncomfortable, startling, and unpredictable it is. Yet Paul chooses this image to describe waiting for God's time, when God's kingdom is at hand. In other words, life waiting for God's kingdom is like being in labor, groaning and moaning uncomfortably until the kingdom comes.
No one likes to wait, whether it's for the dentist, in traffic, in line to buy a Christmas present, for the pain medication to kick in, for the baby to be born, or for "freedom from the bondage to decay" (Romans 8:21).
Paul describes being a Christian as being like a pregnant woman, waiting for the new life to come forth, waiting despite the pain, always hoping for "the freedom of the glory of the children of God" (Romans 8:21).
Even after Jesus is born, Christians must still wait. Paul concludes the Romans passage, "we... groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23). No one is perfect, and all are constantly growing and changing, learning and living, more and more in God's image and in God's time. Waiting is, indeed, a part of waiting in God, too.
Advent season is a symbol of the big waiting game for Christians- living in hope of a loving, saving God. In Advent, the pregnant woman, which Paul calls the "world", nears the time when she gives birth. Everyone waits, and waits, and waits. Then, on Christmas Day, Jesus Christ is born.
What celebrating, what rejoicing when the groaning and moaning ceased. As we all wait with the pregnant woman this Advent season, let us focus on the hope God is incubating for all of us in His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ponder the Following Reflection Questions
1. Does the image of a pregnant woman giving birth describe your own faith and relationship with God? Why or why not?
2. What, if anything, are you waiting for this Advent season?
3. What characteristics of Jesus' life and ministry are helpful for waiting?
Closing Prayer for Hope
God of all creation, you made the world and all that is in it. Be with all creation waiting for your Son to come again this Christmas, and grant comfort and peace to all who wait. Amen.
For the first devotion for advent, try First Day of Advent Devotion, Week 1, Day 1 or Third Day of Advent, Week 1 Day 3.
Sources:
Holy Bible, NRSV. Oremus Bible Browser. 2008.
Zimmerman, Mark. Stirring Up Advent. Creative Communications for the Parish. 2008.
Let Christ's Light Shine this Advent with Prayer
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