The Incarnation and the Exultation: An Advent Devotional - Friday, First Week of Advent – Bringing the Good News!
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O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where no water is.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your merciful love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
Psalm 63:1–3
After the woman at the well experienced the living water of Jesus, she left her jar of ordinary water and ran to her village to share the Good News she had received. When the disciples returned to Jesus, he pointed to the people coming out to meet him and told his disciples to prepare for the harvest that was before them (Jn 4:27–42). The spiritual emptiness of the woman — her thirst for God — led her to the place where she could receive and then share with others the hope that sets all people free.
This wonderful, abundant, overflowing gift of living water that Christ offers us should cause us to leave all the fading glory of this earth aside as we rush into the world to tell others about the joy we have found. It should turn us from lonely, searching, dry individuals to transformed believers, ready to bring in the harvest that is ripe for reaping. When we meet with others, the joy of living in the eternal presence of God should spill out in words of praise that will draw others into the kingdom.
Questions for reflection
What fading glories do you need to lay aside for the greater glory to be found in Christ?
How can you allow Christ’s overflowing love for you to spill into the life of another today?
Praying with Scripture
The words of a man’s mouth are deep water; the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream. (Prov 18:4)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
