The Jesse Tree

First Wednesday of Advent: Noah and the Flood

“God said to Noah: ‘I see that the end of all mortals has come, for the earth is full of lawlessness because of them. So I am going to destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood, equip the ark with various compartments, and cover it in side and out with pitch.’ … I, on my part, am about to bring the flood waters on the earth, to destroy all creatures under the sky in which there is breath of life; everything on earth shall perish. I will establish my covenant with you. You shall go into the ark, you and your sons, your wife and your sons’ wives with you. Of all living creatures you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, one male and one female, to keep them alive along with you.’ …

“The LORD wiped out every being on earth: human beings and animals, the crawling things and the birds of the air; all were wiped out from the earth. Only Noah and those with him in the ark were left. …

“In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God said to Noah; ‘Go out of the ark, together with your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives. Bring out with you every living thing that is with you – all the creatures, be they birds or animals or crawling things that crawl on the earth – and let them abound on earth, and be fertile and multiply on it.’ …

“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and choosing from every clean animal and every clean bird, he offered a burnt offering on the altar. When the LORD smelled the sweet odor, the LORD said to himself: ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of human being, since the desires of the human heart are evil from youth; nor will I ever again strike down every living being, as I have done.’”

God of justice, You created humankind to reflect Your glory. When we sin against You, we become subject to the hand of Your righteous judgment. Yet, even in Your justice there is mercy, for by Your grace we are impelled to return to You, we are forgiven by You, and become a new creation. Create in us a clean heart and refresh the life of grace within us, that we may never turn from You again. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.