Fourth Week of Advent

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."

~ Vincent Van Gogh ~ 

It's nearing the Fourth week of Advent.  I use the term "week" loosely, since this year it is the shortest week possible in the Advent season - only one day before Christmas Eve.  It was tempting as I thought about writing another Advent post, to skip right over this week and rush into reflecting on Christmas.  Why reflect and create a challenge for myself that can only be done in a day or two?  I really wanted to count this "week" out.  

But then, I read the first reading for this Fourth Sunday of Advent.

The prophet Micah reminds us that we ought never count out what seems small.  For from a tribe too small, too weak, too unworthy, came the descendants that bore the Christ Child.  From those counted out by their people, came the Savior of the world.  

So let us not count out this "week," simply because it is so small.  Perhaps if we all challenge ourselves, even only for one day, that could be a day of huge difference.  Regardless of its length, I have come to believe that still great things can come from this week, great things that hopefully will bear Christ to our world! 

"Thus says the LORD:
You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah,
too small to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel" 

Enjoy your fourth week of Advent, short as it may be!