Advent Day 19: Encountering Beauty

Link to PDF Love’s Pure Light⁣ ⁣ https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 2 Samuel 6:1-11 Hebrews 1:1-4⁣ ⁣ 𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 — 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦, 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵.⁣ –C.S. Lewis⁣ ⁣ In a culture consumed with image and appearance, beauty is almost always thought of as something to see, rather than to encounter. Yet true beauty never leaves us unaffected, for it is active and engaging, taking hold of our deepest desires and longings. We are changed and profoundly affected simply by the presence of beauty, for all beauty ultimately points beyond itself and invites us to encounter God as its true source.⁣ Beauty, then, evokes a response, for it is impossible to remain passive in the presence of beauty. And once we have tasted it, we will pursue it with all that we have, for within it, we find our longings not only awakened, but fulfilled. As the psalmist says, “One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD” (Ps. 27:4).⁣ ⁣ In Jesus, the beauty of God is on full display. His mercy and kindness is neither distant nor abstract, but can be known, touched, and encountered. No longer do we hear and see from a distance as our ancestors did, but instead God speaks to us through his Son who is “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being” (Heb. 1:1-3a). In Jesus, we encounter the “one thing” the psalmist sought after: the beauty of God. May we dwell with Christ as he daily transforms us by the beauty of his love.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣ Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣ While financial gifts are a wonderful way to support people in need, they can never replace the gift of being face to face with others. Today, give the gift of your time and be physically present to someone in need, hearing their story and reminding them that they are dearly known and loved by God.