Knox Presbyterian Church: Watching and Waiting

“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the advent of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the advent of the Lord is near.” -James 5:7-8

At our new home in Altadena, there is a white grapefruit tree in the backyard. The fruit is currently green, and only the size of golf balls, with the exception of a few baseball-sized orbs here and there. Each morning I look out our kitchen window, and watch to see if the fruit has yet grown to the size of softballs, or taken on that yellowish white hue indicating it is ripe. I love grapefruit for breakfast, and it is hard to beat getting to pick it fresh from the tree. But those days are still to come, and nothing I can do will make its fruit arrive sooner. All I can do is watch and wait.

As the season of Advent nears, I know a flurry of activity lies ahead. From December 2nd through to the 23rd, the pace of life can ramp up considerably with gifts to get, and events to plan and attend. But the deeper invitation of Advent is not about frantic activity. The season invites us instead to look outside the window, and glimpse what God is slowly and beautifully bringing to fruition. We remember a star that came to light over Bethlehem, and guided shepherds and Magi of old.

We recall the promises of a new heaven and a new earth yet to come. We remember grace itself arrives as a gift for those with the eyes to see it. And so we strive to see each Advent—to see what God is doing now, and to see that future God will one day bring about when our Lord comes again.

To aid in your watching and waiting this Advent, Knox will again be providing devotional booklets for the church community. Paper copies will be available in the church Narthex, and a downloadable electronic version will be up on our website. Put together by pastoral interns Andy Gathman and Cate McCrory, this devotional consists of biblical reflections and artistic renderings from members of the Knox family.

I have five Knox devotionals from prior years on my bookshelf—one to mark each of the years I have served as pastor here at Knox. And each one of the booklets has provided a blessed invitation to pause in a frantic season, and watch for what God might be up to in the world.

Wishing you and your family a meaningful Advent.

Pastor Matt

Knox Presbyterian Church, 225 South Hill Ave., Pasadena, (626) 449-2144 or visit www.knoxpasadena.org.