Thursday - December 14, 2023
Dr. Pat Saxon
READING
“The origins of Advent are the body of a woman. It is the womb of a woman and her paying attention to her body and a promise being spoken over what she was capable of doing and what she would ultimately do by giving birth to something good and healing.” Cole Arthur Riley
WORDS OF HOPE
I remember those people who have spoken blessing and promise over me, helped me know that I was capable of “giving birth to something good and healing.” Still today it touches me deeply to think of the difference they have made in my life.
The God of Creation speaks that promise by coming among us. This act, Rachel Clinton Chen asserts, is a “radical upending of how we imagine the power of God’s rescue, as God comes to us in extraordinary vulnerability, humility and mutuality, trusting Godself to the womb of a human woman.” Cole Arthur Riley agrees and speaks in awe that God would put God’s faith in us, trusting that we would sustain this tiny body, incarnation of the divine-- that we would feed and clothe him, be tender to him, protect him and love him.
The one who bears this long expected Jesus, who becomes the mother of God, is an unwed, teenaged Palestinian girl. Mary of Nazareth, by her radical assent to the will of God becomes a vessel for the most revolutionary of songs. With the voice of prophetic assurance, she envisions the arrogant and powerful brought down, the lowly lifted up, the hungry filled with good things, and mercy showered over the land (Luke 1:51—55).
***
I saw her from the upper story of the house, footsore from the long journey, but something brave steeled her carriage. I knew that the scandal of the conception followed her like a stray dog, and I ached for her, as I too had been the subject of scorn-- the old one who hadn’t been enough. Until God made good on God’s promise. And now my kinswoman, this peasant girl, carried the radiance of God in her. My child John knew it too, for he kicked in recognition of his Lord at her approach. Ecstatic delight rose in me and, heavy as I was with child, I ran to greet her.
She teared up as I caught her in my arms, in part relieved at being embraced and not shunned, in part filled with unhinged joy at this mystery that now we shared. Old woman and young embracing the mystery of something good and healing that would be born from us.
Suddenly, the Spirit filled me and blessing poured forth spontaneously from my mouth: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke: 1: 42). And at this pronouncement her song began.
Contemporary African American poet Drew Jackson recognizes the God-empowered role of Elizabeth in his poem “God speaks through Wombs:”
“In the days of empires/ and puppet regimes,/God speaks./ Through wombs,/wrested and discarded/ because they were unviable./This is what [the empires] do:/toss to the side…/ what they’ve deemed unfit/ to be utilized.”
“But God speaks though wombs,/birthing prophetic utterances./The objects of public scorn/given the power to name/the happening of the Lord.”*
“Her name is Elizabeth./Say her name…/the one through whom the covenant is kept.”
PRAYER
Come again this Advent season, O Christ. Come to us and birth the good and healing in each of us. Birth the justice seeker and the earth renewer. Birth the reconciler and choreographer of diversity. Birth the love-incarnators. Speak your promise over us and birth every good thing. Amen.
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Dr. Pat Saxon
Hear this gifted young poet perform his poem at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvvF8PWUWN8
Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. WORDS OF HOPE It’s now been years since the lockdown days of the pandemic when the calendar on my bedroom wall seemed to have "uncertain" written for every day's activities. Even though those lockdown days are behind us, so much uncertainty remains. In such times, life can get really weird with everything turned upside down. The threats of a war-torn world and economic storm clouds still look menacing. Through the years, I have learned, that in such times of uncertainty, to look out for God's unexpected "drop-in" opportunities. When we focus on God’s presence in our lives, our usual routine is less congested and there is more time for new experiences with the Divine One. We are veterans of living in troubled times and always should be prepared to take shelter from more of life’s storms that are coming our way. If the pandemic taught us anything it’s that there are many degrees of uncertainty that we can endure. When I lived in San Francisco, I had a friend, Giancarlo, who told me: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning how to dance in the rain". The presence of God's Spirit in your life makes a wonderful dance partner! Venture forth into this life even with its uncertainties. The old hymn, How Firm a Foundation, based on the words of Matthew 11.28-30 comes to mind: "The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake. In the days ahead, may our confidence in the trustworthiness of God's care be expressed in all our daily activities. PRAYER "To you, O God, I lift up my soul, in you I put my trust! I know you will not let me be humiliated or triumphed over by these adversities and fears." Even in times of uncertainty, "teach me your way and show me your path" to follow... "For you are the God of my salvation and in you I have placed my trust all the day long." Amen. (Psalm 25:1-4) DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Psalm 66:8-9 Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. WORDS OF HOPE There is an ongoing debate among sociologists and psychologists about generational trauma—as if it were a contest over whether the Silent Generation endured more than Gen Z, or Baby Boomers more than Millennials. The Silent Generation experienced the Cold War and geopolitical anxiety. Boomers faced Vietnam, assassinations, and deep internal conflict. Millennials encountered repeated systemic shocks after September 11 and the Great Recession. Gen Z’s story is still unfolding, marked by COVID-19, climate anxiety, and the advent of AI. Last Sunday night, my spouse and I went to the Bruno Mars concert, and the evening opened with pure joy. DJ Pee Wee—actually Anderson Paak—took the stage, spinning funk, soul, and hip-hop while dancing with infectious energy and pulling the entire stadium into the moment. He called out “Where are my ’70s babies?” and dropped a Whitney Houston track, then shouted, “How about my 80s babies?” and then moved through the decades, each one met with louder singing and laughter. From 60-year-olds like us to teenagers, everyone knew the songs. It was shared, unfiltered happiness. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 66 a communal and personal song of thanksgiving, praising God for delivering His people through intense trials into a place of abundance. The passage highlights God's protection of life and a call to share how God hears prayers and remains steadfast. Each generation has had their trials in their formative years. Be it during under the desk in Cold War drills or school shooting drills. We’ve been locked up during COVID when we were supposed to be in classrooms, and we’ve had our number selected at the end of high school to go to fight a war in Southeast Asia. We saw the planes fly into buildings and Gaza practically bombed out of existence. Yet every generation has found a way to sing, to dance, to laugh—despite all we’ve carried and endured. The Psalmist reminds us that God has delivered us and continues to rescue us still. The life and teachings of Jesus inspire and guide us forward, and the Holy Spirit moves among us, leading us through and bringing us out into hope. PRAYER Gracious God, You have carried every generation through trial and joy. When burdens feel heavy, remind us that you are still delivering and restoring. Fill us with your Spirit, that we may live with hope, unity, and joy. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs
SCRIPTURE Genesis 5.20-22 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” WORDS OF HOPE Noah’s Flood, the all-time favorite Bible narrative of children, is today’s Hebrew Scripture lesson, told during the Eastertide Season as one of the Bible’s most dramatic tales of new beginnings. Children who hear the story readily ignore the part that tells of the wrath of an angry God destroying every living thing on the entire planet except for Noah’s family and all the fauna and edible flora of the world. They just want to see the dramatic 2 by 2 animal parade marching through the Ark’s open door. Children don’t worry themselves with the question of whether the story is about an actual event or is just a colorful animal story, and good for them. There is nothing literal about it. The classic Flood Story is a derivative tale based on Babylonian mythology. Noah is Ziusudra, a righteous man the gods have designated to save his family and various animals from a great flood that occurs in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ziusudra, like Noah, is a righteous person and in each version, there is a divine warning, plans for a large boat, a sacrifice after the waters have receded, and a renewed relationship between the Divine and humankind. But the gods of Babylon had destroyed all of humankind not because they had broken any moral code, but because they were too noisy. I suppose part of Ziusudra’s reconciliation with the divine was to keep the volume down. That would be good advice for interpreters today who teach the story of Noah’s Ark as a literal event. So much noise about an ancient myth that is a comforting reminder in the worst of times, God can send a rainbow, that there is always a renewal and recovery on the horizon, that our precious natural recourses, our animals and our food sources, are essential, and that life is made up of a series of new beginnings if we practice God’s example of forgiveness and love. We do not compromise the integrity of the Bible in understanding it is a library of information made up of wisdom writings, songs, poetry, actual events, historical fiction, stories of faith, courage, and hope. And within that diversity, are the great myths, like Noah’s Flood which is not literal truth, but an iconic tale about the truth, the truth of humankind’s flaws and progressive relationship with the eternal God of Grace. PRAYER Thank you for new beginnings, for reminders of the true essentials of life, and for our daily opportunities to love and forgive one another, regardless of circumstances we. can’t always control. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” WORDS OF HOPE Free from what? I think about this often and though Jesus was speaking to Jews who had never known captivity in their lifetimes, so what freedom was he talking about? Well, for me finding truth had always been a quest. I guess it was instilled in by my father who was a research scientist. The very foundation of research is empirical truth but guided in many cases by inferences and intuition. He taught me that black and white choices were rare occurrences in science, much as they are in life. He taught me that truth, especially philosophical truth, is something that can be found in many ways, and each of us is seeking that truth that is relevant to our lives. He instilled in me a curiosity that has followed me all my life, from my study of philosophy in college to my self-guided study of spiritual truths. So how can discovering a truth set me free? Well, one of the “truths” I have discovered is that my relationship with the Divine is important in my life. Though trying to find empirical proof of that is a fruitless pursuit, my intuition and the inferences I get lead me to believe that there is something greater than myself influencing my life. I believe that is the truth Jesus speaks of. Knowing that sets me free to experience life without too many irrational fears. PRAYER May we all find a truth that can set us free. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman
SCRIPTURE John 10.27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. WORDS OF HOPE I heard a comedian recently describe a relationship in the simplest, most basic terms: “A relationship is two people deciding what to eat until one of them dies.” I chuckled—but there’s a strange truth in it. Aren’t relationships, whether with people or with God, exactly what we make of them? What you give is usually what you get, in just about everything. Take artists, for example—painters in particular. Some are minimalists: less is more. Others add and refine, layering detail right up to the edge, knowing they must stop before the work becomes overworked. Both approaches can succeed, but only when the artist understands where that line is. That seems to be the key in so many areas of life: knowing when less is more, and when too much begins to take away from the whole. There’s a kind of balance point—a place of optimization—that shows up whether you’re painting a canvas or even doing your taxes. Preparation matters. Thinking things through matters. And somewhere in that process, you begin to recognize when enough is enough. Chuck Jones once described the dynamic between the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote as a kind of insanity cycle—essentially redoubling effort for the same or even lesser result. That idea sticks. It’s a reminder that effort alone isn’t the answer; thoughtful direction matters just as much. And yet, we’re surrounded by people—ourselves included—who sometimes just need a little grace, or a gentle nudge in a different direction. Whether they take it or not is another story. Maybe that’s part of what a relationship with God looks like: learning to recognize the right moment to act, to pause, or to adjust course entirely. So, what’s the balance? Mind your own business? Live and let live? There’s wisdom there—but I think I’ll keep listening for that quiet, steady God-voice. More often than not, it has a way of guiding relationships—of every kind—back to where they need to be. PRAYER May I always take the time to be open to your guidance, to listen for your voice, and to adjust course according to your perfect will. DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie C. Rose Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Matthew 25.35-40 ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” WORDS OF HOPE World Give Day 2026 is on Monday, May 4, 2026, aimed at fostering global kindness through acts of giving and volunteering. Volunteering and giving are amazing acts of service for Cathedral of Hope. We don't need a day like today to call us to serve our community! Every day our church family is actively serving those in need. Our members are giving out blessing bags to strangers in need on the corner, helping cook meals to serve to those in the community who are home insecure, going to our community partners to rescue food and share it with other agencies and with food insecure neighbors, buying our monthly groceries for Pac the Pantry or planning for boxes of food for our local school for spring break or the baskets for 500 families at Thanksgiving. Why do we do that? Because we are blessed by God and cannot help but serve others because of our gratitude to God for all we have received in finding CoH as our home and family! These times we live in currently are difficult. Gas and food and everything are more expensive. BUT we are still blessed and realize these stresses are even more difficult for those who are home insecure in our city whose circumstances are far worse than ours. To whom much is given, much is expected. Not just on Give Day, but continually. God calls us to be faithful in helping others! If you are not bringing groceries on the last Sunday of the month for Pac the Pantry, or coming in on various Saturdays to help make blessing bags, or volunteering on Monday for iCare, or Tuesday to cook or help plate food for Taste of Hope, or Saturday mornings to help with BACH (Breakfast at Cathedral of Hope), PLEASE figure what you can do to help those in need. Even if your help is a smile and an encouraging word to those in need. Making them feel seen is a very important gift to them. PRAYER God who cares for us all. Help us remember to be giving to those in need always so all feel valued and loved. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jan Nunn Cathedral of Hope Volunteer