2016 Advent Wreath Meditations — Year A, Second Sunday of Advent

This set of brief meditations and scripture may be used in lighting the candles of the Advent wreath in worship at church or home. Each meditation uses one of the 2016 lectionary readings for that day. The readings are divided into sections that can be assigned to various persons participating, including children. Choose from among the hymn options to conclude each meditation. Permission is granted to download, copy, adapt, edit, and reprint for home or local church worship with the inclusion of the copyright citation on each copy.

Second Sunday of Advent (December 4, 2016)

This is a time of year when patience yields to frustration, fulfillment turns to greed, and enough simply becomes not enough. In these days of excess, we wonder how we can ever change our understanding of God’s provision—for us, our families, friends and strangers alike. Where is the justice in it all? It is in this season of want that we encounter a reading from the Book of Isaiah on this second Sunday of Advent.

Isaiah 11: 1-10 (NRSV)
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hold of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

One: The word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God.

[Light the first candle.]

Because our God is a God of justice, we too are a people of justice, and inequality will not rule our land. The poor will live with the rich, the adult will learn from the child, and God’s provision will be enough. We light this candle today to provide a reminder that even a small flame is enough to cast light all around it—assurance that our work for justice can speak with the voice of God.

[Light the second candle.]

One: And so we offer this mysterious prayer:
ALL: Lord Jesus, quickly come.

SUNG RESPONSE: “Come, Lord Jesus, Come”

© 2016 by Discipleship Ministries, The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203. Telephone (877)899-2780, ext 7073. Used by permission. Permission is granted to download, adapt, edit, copy, and use in congregational or home worship with the inclusion of this entire copyright citation on each copy. It may not be sold, republished, used for profit, or placed on a website without permission.