Advent at Ararat 2024 - Day 16: The miraculous often appears in the mundane.

Advent “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I don’t know what we think needs to happen in order for the miraculous to be made manifest. Indeed, must we circumstantially “see” it coming?

The idea that the miraculous is somehow always preceded by some eerie “otherworldliness,” or some unmistakable announcement, is not a biblical concept. Indeed, a thorough examination of the miraculous throughout the Bible, illustrates that more often than not, the miraculous abruptly interrupts the monotony, or even the misery, of the everyday lives of everyday people.

The most miraculous event to ever happen to man: the birth of our Lord, happened in a stable. He was placed in a manger, a feeding trough for livestock! As we have discussed, you can’t get more lowly or mundane than that.

And—to continue that theme—the first announcement concerning the Lord’s birth, is given to lowly shepherds; shepherds who may well have been damp, and shivering, in the darkness of night.

We will—over the next couple of days—discuss why the announcement was made to shepherds. For now we consider the unlikelihood of shepherds seeing and hearing an angelic host proclaiming the good news of the birth of our Lord.

I think it’s safe to say that many people—at one time or another in their lives—become weary of their daily existence. Some, respond to this scenario by surrendering to the inevitability of their “plight.” Still others, respond with quiet despair. As well, some may do ridiculous things to try to bring some excitement or change into their otherwise mundane, unfulfilling, and/or miserable, existence.

Now, I am a person who appreciates the miraculous in the very creation surrounding us. As well, I am humbled by the miraculous in my own life, and am grateful for the things that are “going right,” most of the time. For me, entertaining the option of dissatisfaction with particular circumstances, should only be broached in the context of God‘s ability to change me, change the circumstances, or, most of the time, to change both.

However, I do appreciate that it is easy to begin to think that your current portion defines your destination. And, if we couple with that, the fact that many of the people feeling trapped in a context, are dissatisfied with the same, their desire to break out of that context, is more relatable.

Yet, in the light of our relationship with God in Jesus Christ, and all that He has for us, the “inescapability” of our “miserable plight,” could not be further from the truth. In fact, our routine, what we may reckon as mundane, or even grievous, is that through which the Lord often chooses to show His marvelous deeds, His miraculous doings.

For today meditate on the fact that the miraculous is all around us, all the time. Indeed, our very lives are miraculous. Even our angst, viewed within the context of what others are dealing with, may be rendered petty. But, with that, it is important to remember that those exclamatory moments of life we all cherish, those marvelous victories long-awaited, may be just moments away.

As you look to the Lord, meditating on His goodness, may He send you a fresh reminder of the glory of His presence, the wonder of His love, and the hope in His assurances.

Remember, the greatest Gift is always with us. We have but to pause and breathe in the fragrance of His goodness and mercy toward us, to make us too grateful, too in awe of Him, to ever count our lives as hopeless, helpless, or insignificant.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!