Advent Devotional December 10, 2025

Scripture

Revelation 1:17–2:7

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last 18 and the Living One. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. 19 Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

2 “I know your works, your toil and your endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them to be false. 3 I also know that you are enduring and bearing up for the sake of my name and that you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember, then, from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.

Devotion

The Rev. Dr. Garrett Mostowski '24

When the unknown emptiness
of dread clogs
your breath—like a heavy stone
jammed in the back of your throat—

and when your knees cave
into the pool of shadows
pouring out from your feet,

may you ignore what the thunders speak.
Cling instead to the candle’s hiss
and the susurrus of leaves
murmuring: “Don't be afraid."

And in those whispers
may you sense
the presence of divine absence—

like a hand
laid gently between the blades
of your shoulders
kneading you back to yourself,

back to breath—
into a world
still warm with the memory of fire.

May your lungs balloon deep and wide,
as your feet find the star-lit path again,
moseying between what has been
and what may be,

carried always by the Love that is
and was and
always can be.

Prayer

Good and loving God,

Let me feel Your breath on the back of my neck as You remind me, over and over again, to set aside my fears. May Your peace carry me and overwhelm me as I walk toward all that’s unfolding today. Amen.

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