Second Sunday of Advent

Year 3: December 10, 2017

Preaching Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14

The Message of the Birds by Kate Westerlund

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: As I read this text, I thought of the images of horrors and hopelessness that we see daily, of broken bodies robbed of safety, a place to call home, or even life—are these our valley of dry bones? In many ways this text is so fitting for the season of Advent, a time where we acknowledge that even in the darkness, we will cling to the light. Much as God asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live again?” The Owl asks the birds, “Can the Christ child’s song of peace live again?” In this season of Advent, through this text and story, may we experience God’s light of hope, even when it feels like we’re standing in a valley of despair. Prophesy, God says, and bring about dancing! Prophesy, the owl says, and bring about peace. May it be so.

Thanks to Noell Rathbun, Union Presbyterian Seminary alumna, for writing the Year 4 Narrative Lectionary Links.

Lectionary Links (NL): December 10, 2017 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.