Forward Movement, the excellent resource for many things Episcopal, including the Forward Day by Day booklets many of you are familiar with, has once again challenged people to reflect on one word each day of Advent. Each word is taken from the Sunday liturgy – the prayers and readings for the Sunday in Advent for each of the 4 weeks of the Advent season. I am going to attempt (pray for me) to add a short reflection on each word each day of Advent. To subscribe to the Advent Word series from Forward Movement, click HERE.

Advent Word – Tribe

From Psalm 122 verses 3 – 4 (from the first Sunday of Advent):

Jerusalem is built as a city, that is at unity with itself: To which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, the assembly of Israel, to praise the Name of the Lord.

The brief meditation on the word “Tribes” provided by Forward Day by Day for today speaks very well of tribes – “Whether referring to the twelve tribes of Israel, indigenous tribes around the world, or musical groups, what connects us as people is up to us and up to God. What makes a tribe a tribe is belonging. Isn’t that good news!”

Yes it is good news, until it’s not. I worry tribalism is at the root of what ails our nation (and perhaps world). While belonging is great, at the same time I pray we are willing to listen to “other tribes” stories and experiences, which often enrich our own. I pray this Advent we all find ourselves in the one tribe that matters the most – beloved children of God.