First Monday Advent
Daily Advent Readings & Meditation
December 4, 2023
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Today’s Texts:
Micah 4:1-4: A vision of a peaceful future where nations live in harmony.
Luke 1:26-34: The angel Gabriel visits Mary to announce she will give birth to Jesus.

Micah 4:1-4
4In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

Luke 1:26-34
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

Today’s Meditation:   
Micah’s vision of a world at peace, where conflict is replaced by harmony, is a powerful reminder of the potential that lies within our shared humanity. It speaks to our deep longing for a world where swords are turned into plowshares, where every individual can sit under their vine and fig tree, unafraid. In the story of the Annunciation, we see Mary’s humble acceptance of a monumental role, embodying trust and faith in the midst of the unknown. These scriptures together inspire us to dream of a peaceful future and to trust in the unfolding of God’s plan, even when the path is unclear. Let us hold onto this vision of peace and harmony, nurturing it within our hearts and in our communities.

Something to Think and Pray About:

• How can we foster peace and understanding in our own lives and in our interactions with others?
• What can Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel teach us about faith and trust in times of uncertainty?

A Prayer For Today:  
Gracious God, in this time of Advent, we reflect on the promise of peace and the example of trust shown by Mary. Help us to cultivate peace in our hearts and extend it to those around us. Grant us the courage to trust in Your plan, even when the way forward is not clear, and to embrace our roles in bringing Your vision of harmony to life. Amen.