A line from Mary’s song of protest and praise is worthy of pause:

Surely, from now on, all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation. -Luke 1: 48b-50

Despite her challenges and vulnerability, Mary could glimpse the scale and scope of the good news she was part of bringing forth. This good news transcends time and space. It was and is bigger than just her. Christ is coming for collective liberation. God’s redemption is at work for years to come. Therefore, the promise is meant to be lived out and passed on from generation to generation.

We are invited to look at the characters in our scriptures and wonder: What did each character pass on or contribute? How did each character participate in God’s liberation and love? Which characters try to thwart God’s justice, and what can we learn from them?

Our theme is also a call to action. The root word of “generation” is “gen” meaning “origin” or “birth.”

Who are the spiritual elders in our community who planted the seeds for the things that are now blooming? What are we being called to generate or bring forth? What seeds are you planting for the future?

From Generation to Generation… reminds us our lives, histories, actions, and stories are interconnected and woven together. Amid narratives, policies, and rhetoric designed to divide us, what does it look like to practice belonging to one another? The work of God is always unfolding— in and through us. This Advent season, how will we carry it forth?