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ADVENT REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is the Word tabernacled among us. A tabernacle in Jewish religious tradition is a structure built for God as His dwelling place. Jesus is referred to as the Word of God in John’s account of the Gospel thus “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” (John 1:1-4). The Word tabernacled among us means Jesus who is God’s Word came to dwell among us in human form, John tells us that “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).

Dear friend, in the past, burnt offerings, were offered by the High Priest to experience the glory of God in the tabernacle. God revealed Himself through thick dark clouds that filled the tabernacle as seen in 1 Kings 8:10-13 but in the new dispensation, God through Jesus Christ came to live among us. This was the ultimate aim of the first advent of Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) Jesus, the Word of God continues to dwell among those who have repented, believe in Him and follow His teachings. This greatest act of love was done for humanity so that sinful and unworthy humanity could see, touch, hear, smell, understand and have a personal relationship with God through His Word tabernacled among us. For this reason, “Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” (John 14:8-11) In other words, if we know Jesus through His Words or teachings and we obey Him faithfully then we shall continually experience the glory of God because God’s plan for humanity is to save us through His Son Jesus Christ who came in the first Advent and will return again in the second Advent to judge the world and save those who have fed on Him as the Word of God and the bread of eternal life. The more we feed on the Word tabernacled among us, the deeper our transformation and our relationship with God which gives us the assurance of our salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ when He returns on His second Advent. The Advent season offers us another opportunity to rededicate our lives to God and appreciate His love for us through Jesus Christ who dwelled among us in human form during the first Advent and also to prepare to receive Him as the way to eternal life before His second Advent. Jesus, the Word of God tabernacled among us has assured us that “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7) Shalom.

PRAYER

Almighty God, thank You for revealing Your glory and love to the world through the mystery the Word tabernacled among us. May the Holy Spirit enable us to feed on Jesus, Your tabernacled Word among us even as we prepare for His Advent and our salvation. Amen.