Advent Devotional November 30, 2025

Scripture

Psalm 24

1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it,
2 for he has founded it on the seas
and established it on the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false
and do not swear deceitfully.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6 Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in!
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in!
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory. Selah

Devotion

The Rev. Dr. Ruth L. Boling ’24

I’ve been to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade twice. The first time all I had to do was pack snacks and water. Our son Daniel was little enough to ride on his father’s shoulders, where he had an excellent view of the balloons above and the floats and marching bands below.

The second time was more challenging! Out-of-town guests were visiting. Daniel was older. The days of me hoisting him onto my shoulders were long gone, and my husband had to work. I worried Daniel wouldn’t be able to see and would therefore be miserable. Determined, I packed snacks, water, and at the last minute I did one of the dorkiest mom things you can imagine. I grabbed the aluminum step ladder from our kitchen and carried it with us, down the sidewalk, right onto the subway. In midtown, as the crowds pressed in, I set up the ladder as a perch for Daniel, and a good time was had by all.

Psalm 24 evokes the moment of readiness before a parade. Lining the streets are the pure in heart who have been preparing for the occasion by devoting themselves to holy, ethical living. The very gates and doors of the city seem poised, like the worshipers themselves, for what scholars surmise to have been a liturgical procession displaying the ark of the covenant. All are summoned to “lift up their heads” in attention and reverence.

The season of Advent is here. God will come to us anew as we retell the story of God coming to us of old. We’ll miss out if we don’t gear up, as it were—if we don’t do the work we need to do to position ourselves to be in a good place, metaphorically speaking, to take it all in.

Prayer

Holy God, I am afraid I will miss seeing You during the crowded, noisy, demanding season of Advent. Give me a pure heart and a sincere desire to recognize You when You show Your face in any guise. Fuel my determination. Give me hope. I want to see You. Amen.

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