Good morning! Our Advent devotional today comes to us from Ruston Farrington. Ruston is originally from Tulsa, OK, and in a little over a week he will be graduating with a degree in Accounting from the Neeley School of Business and the John V. Roach Honors College. After that he will continue his education while pursuing a masters degree in Accounting, also at TCU. Over the past year Ruston has served as the Community & Inclusion Chair for our Disciples On Campus Ministry, where he has intentionally offered a warm and welcoming presence to all. Ruston has an infectious smile, a gentle spirit, and a genuine desire to care for those around him. In a world that too often feels less than welcoming, Ruston inspires HOPE that there are in fact people and places in this world where ALL can be celebrated and loved. May his words of HOPE for us today inspire us to do the same during this season of Advent and beyond. -Rev. Todd Boling, University Chaplain
Luke 4:14-21
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your healing.”
The story of Jesus reading the scroll of Isaiah is a story of profound hope. In the synagogue, Jesus reads from Isaiah and announces a new era of restoration for humanity. Declaring himself the Messiah, he proclaims his mission: to heal the broken and extend the Lord’s favor to all. The power of this passage lies in the final statement when the scripture is fulfilled in our healing; I don’t believe this fulfillment is confined to that moment but is ongoing, inviting us to continue his mission of healing.
This passage in Luke reminds me of a quote Rev. Lauren Sierra once shared with my Disciples on Campus community and me: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” – Fred Rogers
The world can often feel overwhelming or scary. In those moments of despair and uncertainty, the gospels point us to the ultimate helper: Jesus, the helper of humanity. The Lord saw the state of the world and sent his son as a beacon of hope for creation. And just as the Lord anointed Jesus, we too are called to carry out his mission – to proclaim good news, bring freedom to the oppressed, and live out his love for our neighbors. What greater hope is there than to witness God’s helpers living out his provision?
I am currently in my final week of undergraduate studies at TCU, and while I am excited for the future, it is a period of uncertainty. In these times, I find it comforting to remember that there will always be others walking with us, offering hope by embodying the love of Jesus. For me, those helpers are my family, friends, mentors, and spiritual community.
Julian of Norwich once wrote about the Lord’s revelation to her: “I was filled with everlasting certainty, which pervaded my being with its sustaining power and drove out all the pain and fear.” Julian reminds us that the opposite of despair is certainty – a certainty rooted in Jesus, the hope who drives despair from the world. So during this season of Advent, and in times of uncertainty, let us look for the helpers and find hope. Let us live like Jesus, sharing his love, fulfilling his mission, and embodying the certainty that he offers to the world.
Let us pray.
Lord and Heavenly Helper, thank you for sending your son Jesus to be the Hope of our world. During this Advent season, fill us with your Spirit and empower us to live out your mission as helpers to each other. Provide us comfort and certainty during uncertain times, reminding us of your promise of hope. Amen.