Advent Devotions

The Hope of the LowlyI 

“The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down… The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow.” (Psalm 146:8–9)

Reflection:
In this season of Advent, when the world often exalts the loudest voices and the brightest displays, the psalmist calls our attention elsewhere: to the poor, the hungry, the prisoner, the blind, the stranger, and the oppressed. These are the ones God sees first. These are the ones to whom hope is promised.

Hope, in God’s kingdom, does not trickle down from the powerful—it rises up among the lowly. God's justice is not abstract; it is personal and restorative. God lifts the humble, defends the marginalised, and brings healing to those the world overlooks.

Jesus, born in a stable and laid in a manger, is the living embodiment of this hope. He is the fulfilment of the psalmist’s promise—a King who comes not to dominate, but to serve. As we wait for His coming, we are reminded that Advent is not just about counting down to Christmas; it is about aligning our hearts with the values of God's kingdom.

There’s a story about a small church in a rural village that held a Christmas dinner every year. It was open to everyone—no ticket, no price, just a welcome table and a warm meal.

One year, a local farmer noticed something odd. At every table, there was an empty chair—not because people hadn’t come, but because the organisers insisted on leaving one seat open at each table. When he asked why, an elderly woman from the church explained:

“That chair is for the one who thinks they don’t belong. The stranger. The loner. The one too ashamed to walk in. We keep that chair open so they know—someone’s expecting them. Someone’s hoping they’ll come.”

That year, the farmer returned with a neighbour he knew was struggling—recently widowed, out of work, nearly invisible to the community. That man sat in the empty chair, and when he did, he said, “I didn’t think I’d be welcome anywhere this Christmas.”

That chair wasn’t just a symbol. It was a sermon. It said: God sees the lowly. God welcomes the forgotten. Hope has a place for you.

That’s what Psalm 146 is all about. God doesn’t forget the one bowed down in sorrow or hardship. In God’s kingdom, no one is invisible, and no one is left without hope. Advent invites us not only to believe this—but to live it.

Prayer:
Strengthen me with your justice and mercy, O Lord. Teach me to hope not in status or strength, but in your steadfast love. Help me to see as you see—to lift the lowly, welcome the stranger, and walk humbly with you. Amen.