Advent reflection Day 3

Opening Prayer for each day

Lord of light and the darkness,
May your Spirit guide our preparations for Christmas.
Help us to seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
In our anxiety may we look forward to your coming among us and be blessed by the joy of your presence.
When we feel as if we are walking in darkness may we see your light as we say,
“Come, Lord Jesus!” Amen.

Psalm 23. 1,2,5
Refrain: I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full.

When Psalm 23 was written a few thousand years ago the shepherds led their sheep and the trusted their shepherd and followed him almost as a friend leading the way.

The psalm-writer stresses the protective nature of the shepherd’s job. He looks out for green pastures and still waters where the sheep can eat and drink in safety. And in dangerous places he protects them with his rod and staff.
The psalm has beauty, poetry yet also a realisation that life can be hard but despite this the psalm reminds us that we are in God’s care
With all that has happened of the last several months, I will spare you any of the adjectives used to describe the COVID-19 experience, we are all experiencing some sense of loss. During these dark moments there are times when we can long for the sense of companionship which God offers. He is not one who simply gives orders telling us how we ought to feel and act; he understands the confusion of thought we experience and our need to feel protective comfort. There is no magic wand to make our loss and confusion disappear, but the strength of the God who stands alongside us is our strength and hope. He shepherds us in our darkness. His light shines even in the valley of the shadow of death.

Listen to or read Howard Goodall’s arrangement of ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’

The Lord is my Shepherd
I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
He leadeth me besides the still waters

The Lord is my Shepherd
I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
He leadeth me besides the still waters

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil

For you are with me
You will comfort me

You are with me
You will comfort me

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever
Forever. Forever. Forever

O God, our sovereign and shepherd,
who brought again your Son Jesus Christ
from the valley of death,
comfort us with your protecting presence
and your angels of goodness and love,
that we also may come home
and dwell with him in your house for ever. Amen
(Prayer Shared from ‘Reflection on the Psalms’ app. Material subject to copyright)

May God the Son, coming among us in power,
reveal in our midst the promise of his glory.