Advent Devotional #12

Today's devotion from Goshen College:

DEC. 10 - FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION


By Betty Schrag, assistant to the president

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)
Scroll down for complete Scripture.

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DEVOTIONAL:
Mary’s Magnificat is a beautiful illustration of her
simple faith in a God she learned about from stories passed
down through her family line and from others in her faith
community.

Every October when the air is cool and crisp, and the
leaves are beginning to change, I migrate east with my
siblings and our families to our roots, to the hills and
valleys of Pennsylvania. We spend time cooking together,
playing games, hiking, reminiscing and allowing our souls to
catch up with our bodies. For one week we live together once
again on the land where we, our parents and grandparents
grew up. Although the generations before us are no longer
living, we continue this ritual of gathering, bound together
by our common biological and spiritual ancestry, and by our
love for each other.

This fall, we set aside one evening to talk about family
dynamics at the request of a younger family member who
facilitated the conversation. As we shared our stories --
some humorous and some painful -- we recognized the common
thread of God's faithfulness to our family through the
years. We became keenly aware of how much the passed-down
stories of faith and failure have influenced the way we live
our lives. It was a holy moment. We sat in silence for a
long time. Nobody wanted to be the first to break the spell
of this sacred time.

"My soul is filled with joy . . . and holy is your name
through all generations, everlasting is your mercy . . ."

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SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)
And Mary said,

'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God
my Saviour,

for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his
servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call
me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy
is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to
generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the
proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and
lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his
mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to
Abraham and to his descendants for ever.'




View all of this season's devotions at
http://www.goshen.edu/devotions

Goshen College
http://www.goshen.edu
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The views and beliefs expressed in the devotional piece prepared by
each individual reflect their own spiritual growth journey and
thoughts, and while created in a campus environment that encourages
thoughtful questions and reflection on biblical Scripture and
contemporary Christian themes, do not necessarily represent the
official institutional positions of Goshen College or Mennonite Church
USA.

We welcome students who desire a Christ-centered education shaped
around
* passionate learning
* global citizenship
* servant leadership and
* compassionate peacemaking.
Do you know someone who would be a good fit at Goshen College?
Find out more at http://www.goshen.edu/dev/admission .