{"id":8800,"date":"2021-12-07T08:21:13","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T13:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=8800"},"modified":"2021-12-06T12:36:55","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T17:36:55","slug":"december-12-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"December 12, 2021&#8211;Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Alex Zuber, Harrisonburg, VA<\/b><\/p>\n<h4><b>Warm-up Question<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>When have you had a real \u201cwake up call\u201d?<\/p>\n<h4><b>Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>It\u2019s been nearly two years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Many have grown weary and complacent as the global crisis wears on.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>But our challenges are not over; just this week a new variant, dubbed \u201cOmicron\u201d, has been identified by South African scientists.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aa.com.tr\/en\/health\/omicron-variant-is-wake-up-call-on-vaccine-inequality-south-african-president\/2433213\">In an address to the nation<\/a>, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, \u201cThe emergence of the Omicron variant should be a wake-up call to the world that vaccine inequality cannot be allowed to continue.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>While many have grown weary, President Ramaphosa calls on the world to wake up, seek equity, and build up one another in the struggle against this virus.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Lack of access to the COVID vaccine will affect the poorest of the global populations first.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Ramaphosa argues that shutting down travel will only hurt the physical and financial health of nations who are beginning to see the Omicron variant, many of whom need support in producing the COVID-19 vaccine.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This disparity in vaccine distribution will cost lives.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>While inequity may not be on the list of COVID-19 symptoms, it can be just as deadly as the virus itself.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s easy to focus only on physical disease symptoms. \u00a0But after all this time, we may need to wake up to the other crises of inequity and injustice which make this pandemic so deadly.<\/p>\n<h4><b>Discussion Questions<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Did you know about inequity in vaccine distribution worldwide?<\/li>\n<li>What other deadly challenges do you see alongside COVID-19, and who is being most affected?<\/li>\n<li>How can you work for equity in access to healthcare in your community?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Third Sunday of Advent<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=505293133\">Zephaniah 3:14-20<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=505293168\">Isaiah 12:2-6<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=505293235\">Philippians 4:4-7<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=505293382\">Luke 3:7-18<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Text links are to <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/\">Oremus Bible Browser<\/a>. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elca.org\/Our-Work\/Congregations-and-Synods\/Worship\/Lectionary\/YearC\">Lectionary Readings<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic <a href=\"http:\/\/www.agnusday.org\/\">Agnus Day.<\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Gospel Reflection<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Right off the bat we see why Hallmark has a robust industry in Christmas cards and not Advent cards.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHappy Advent, You Brood of Vipers\u201d might not sell too well as a holiday card, but these words are certainly a wake-up call for the audience of John the Baptizer. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-8811 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-525x350.jpg 525w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704.jpg 1254w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With this abrupt beginning, it seems weird that the reading ends with \u201cSo, with many other exhortations, [John] proclaimed the good news to the people.\u201d What part of brood of vipers is good news?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Biblically speaking, calling someone a descendent of the treacherous serpent of Eden is no compliment.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The blow is not softened by the following lines, which proclaim wrath, judgement, and the people\u2019s need to repent.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This is strong language, meant to grab the people\u2019s attention and wake them up to their sinfulness and the suffering in the world around them.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a wonder that John was such a popular preacher.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>He essentially begins his sermon with \u201cSINNERS!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Here\u2019s how you\u2019ve got it all wrong!\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Nevertheless, John grabs our attention, and then unquestionably shares the good news. (He really does!)<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>After this weird viper start, John lays out God\u2019s bold vision for the world.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>In this world resources are shared, the wealthy aren\u2019t predatory, and the powerful aren\u2019t violently coercive.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The poor are uplifted and the powerful are humble and responsible with their means.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This is good news! <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The gospel critiques power.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The gospel turns the world upside down and lifts up the lowly.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>We who hear this good news are meant to bear witness, so that the gospel holds communities, individuals, and political powers accountable to God\u2019s way of justice. good news, or gospel, is a bold statement from its very inception.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It has deep cultural, personal, and political ramifications which turn everything upside down.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>And isn\u2019t that exactly what John does? Those with possessions, tax collectors, soldiers, you and me\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>John doesn\u2019t let us get off easy. He asks great things of those who hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John turns our self-centeredness upside down.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This text may seem heavy and out of place.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Here we are, in a season of<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>hope and joy, expectantly anticipating Christmas.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Today is even called \u201cGaudete Sunday\u201d across the church, meaning \u201cRejoice Sunday.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Yet Advent is more than the run up to Christmas.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>John\u2019s message calls us vipers and asks a lot of us.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Still,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>this reading gives us reason to rejoice.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Even as John gives us a challenging wake-up call, the Good News is that there IS Good News\u2014even for vipers.<\/p>\n<h4><b>Discussion Questions<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Has there ever been a situation in your life that woke you up to injustice?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>If so, share that story and describe what you did, why you did it, and what happened in consequence.<\/li>\n<li>Have you ever felt challenged rather than comforted by the words of the Gospel?\u00a0 If so, share how that experience changed your perspective.<\/li>\n<li>John offers very clear guidance to the tax collectors and soldiers who speak to him. What instruction do you imagine John the Baptist might offer you regarding your own repentance?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Activity Suggestions<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Find a friend, neighbor, or member of your congregation and have a one-on-one conversation with them about what concerns they have in their life or their community.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Practice \u201cactive listening,\u201dwhere you summarize their statement with \u201cI hear you say\u2026\u201d or \u201cwhat I think you\u2019re saying is\u2026\u201d.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Do not offer commentary on their reflections, rather ensure that they are being heard and that you are aware of the needs around you.<\/p>\n<h4><b>Closing Prayer<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Wake us up, Lord, to the needs all around us.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>As we trust that you hear the cries of our hearts, turn us from our viper-ish ways, and rouse us from our complacency to serve you in thought, word, and deed.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Give us hearts full of rejoicing, through Christ our Lord. Amen.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alex Zuber, Harrisonburg, VA Warm-up Question When have you had a real \u201cwake up call\u201d? Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers It\u2019s been nearly two years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0 Many have grown weary and complacent as the global crisis wears on.\u00a0 But our challenges are not over; just this week a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1400],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>December 12, 2021-Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers - Faith Lens<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"December 12, 2021-Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers - Faith Lens\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Alex Zuber, Harrisonburg, VA Warm-up Question When have you had a real \u201cwake up call\u201d? Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers It\u2019s been nearly two years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0 Many have grown weary and complacent as the global crisis wears on.\u00a0 But our challenges are not over; just this week a [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Faith Lens\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-12-07T13:21:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1254\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"836\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"faithlens\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"faithlens\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"faithlens\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7\"},\"headline\":\"December 12, 2021&#8211;Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-12-07T13:21:13+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1002,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2021\\\/12\\\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Post\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/\",\"name\":\"December 12, 2021-Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers - Faith Lens\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2021\\\/12\\\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-12-07T13:21:13+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2021\\\/12\\\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2021\\\/12\\\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/december-12-2021\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"December 12, 2021&#8211;Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/\",\"name\":\"Faith Lens\",\"description\":\"Weekly Bible studies that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7\",\"name\":\"faithlens\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"faithlens\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/author\\\/faithlens\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"December 12, 2021-Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers - Faith Lens","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"December 12, 2021-Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers - Faith Lens","og_description":"Alex Zuber, Harrisonburg, VA Warm-up Question When have you had a real \u201cwake up call\u201d? Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers It\u2019s been nearly two years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0 Many have grown weary and complacent as the global crisis wears on.\u00a0 But our challenges are not over; just this week a [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/","og_site_name":"Faith Lens","article_published_time":"2021-12-07T13:21:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1254,"height":836,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"faithlens","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"faithlens","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/"},"author":{"name":"faithlens","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#\/schema\/person\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7"},"headline":"December 12, 2021&#8211;Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers","datePublished":"2021-12-07T13:21:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/"},"wordCount":1002,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg","articleSection":["Post"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/","url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/","name":"December 12, 2021-Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers - Faith Lens","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg","datePublished":"2021-12-07T13:21:13+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#\/schema\/person\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/iStock-929151704-300x200.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-12-2021\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"December 12, 2021&#8211;Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/","name":"Faith Lens","description":"Weekly Bible studies that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#\/schema\/person\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7","name":"faithlens","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"faithlens"},"url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/author\/faithlens\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8800"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8813,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8800\/revisions\/8813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}