Between Sundays for the Week of December 1, 2025
Contemplation often gets a bad rap among church-going folk. Maybe you learned the virtue of “not putting off to tomorrow what could be done today.” In this environment, contemplation is often considered an unproductive waste of time. Spiritual contemplation is seen as a passive act of waiting for God to do something, when maybe what God wants is for us to take action.
Yet, the dictionary reminds us that the notion of passivity that clouds our understanding of contemplation is wrong. Contemplation is the “action of looking thoughtfully at something for a long time.”
Spiritual contemplation is active. It is the act of seeing, hearing, noticing, paying attention, and doing all of this actively and with intent, in order to discern both what God is up to in the world around us and recognize how God is still calling us to be a part of it.
From this vantage point, consider the ways in which Mary is contemplative in Luke 1:26-55. We often hear Mary referenced in our carols as meek and mild and passively waiting for God to pluck her out of obscurity to serve God’s purpose, lacking any agency. But when study her familiar story, we see her described as perplexed and pondering – she has an active mind. We listen to her as she engages God’s messenger with curiosity and a question – How can this be? We notice her as she lives this unexpected and mysterious moment before she speaks her consent – Here am I.
Mary’s song reveals the depth of her contemplation. In it we hear how she has seen God’s mercy revealed in each generation of those who stand in awe of God’s power. We hear as she describes God’s strength in dethroning the mighty ones while lifting up the lowly ones, and again, in filling up the hungry ones while sending the rich away empty handed. In all of this we see that Mary can be attentive to God’s call in the moment she is visited, because she has long contemplated the attention that God has given to the humble ones alluded to in her song.
As we observed the changes around us at the start of this Advent, Mary’s story invites into our own contemplation and to embrace the action of looking thoughtfully at God’s activity this Advent and to see anew how God is still inviting us to see Christ’s love and grace born into our lives today.
Faith Connection at Home
This year, BLC is encouraging families to try a reverse Advent calendar. This type of Advent calendar is a way to help food banks fill their shelves during this especially needy season. Each day suggests food items to donate, then at the end of the Advent period, the box is delivered to a local food pantry. An example of a reverse Advent calendar you can use with your family is attached here.
To get started, pick out a donation box and find a place to keep it in your home during Advent. If you have picked a cardboard box, decorate it as a family. Consider filling your advent donation box at the same time every day, perhaps first thing in the morning or right before bedtime. If your family is unable to put an item in the box every day, tailor the calendar to your needs. Perhaps circle the top 10 items you will donate and put a few items in your box each time you light your advent wreath on Sundays.
Another option is to make the Advent calendar an afternoon Advent event. Go shopping as a family for items to donate and drop your donation box on the same day. Let the kids help pick out the items and check them off one by one as you shop. Ask them to think about what other kids would like. Say a prayer for the people who will receive the items in your donation box and then pick a place to drop off your box. A few suggestions are at church, at a little pantry in your neighborhood, at the food cupboard found at Evergreen East or even at a local business that is collecting for Perinton Food Shelf or another local food pantry. Whatever works best for your family is the right way to do it.
Items to Avoid
If possible, avoid items in glass jars that can more easily break in transport. Consider healthier food choices as well as snack foods. Always double check expiration dates to be sure that items are not out of date. Also, do not donate any homemade food, jars or cans without labels, or anything that requires refrigeration.
Personal Care Needs
Some products that people use every day are often forgotten when it comes to pantry donations. Food pantries often need donations like feminine pads, diapers, baby wipes, toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, hand lotion, shampoo, and paper towels. Consider adding some of these items to your box of donations.
Ponderings
Mary,
Nazareth girl:
What did you know of ethereal beings
with messages from God?
What did you know of men
when you found yourself with child?
What did you know of babies,
you, barely out of childhood yourself?
God-chosen girl:
What did you know of God
that brough you to this stable
blessed among women?
Could it be that you had been ready
waiting
listening
for the footsteps
of an angel?
Could it be there are messages for us
if we have the faith to listen to them?
~from Kneeling in Bethlehem by Ann Weems
As Advent begins and the days grow darker, we yearn to see Christ’s love born into this world. Here are some resources that can help you to mark the days of waiting and watching.
Everything Happens Playlist: Songs for the long ache and the small joy.
Daily Reflections delivered to your inbox from Kate Bowler.
Journey with Jesus has created an archive of poetry for Advent offering 42 poems on seasonal themes.
All Creation Waits by Gayle Boss, provides 25 reflections and original woodcut illustrations of animals in the winter dark.