Reconciliation: Making Things Right
“A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I’ll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family!”
(Scrooge, A Christmas Carol, Stave 5)
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–24)
Advent Day 19 — Reconciliation: Making Things Right
Theme: Love restores what sin has broken
The dawn has broken, and Scrooge—newly alive in heart and spirit—bursts into the streets with laughter. But his transformation doesn’t stop with joy; it moves outward in love. The man who once shut himself away now hurries to make things right.
He sends a grand turkey to the Cratchits. He surprises Fred and his wife at their Christmas feast. And when he walks into his office the next morning, his kindness toward Bob Cratchit leaves the humble clerk utterly astonished.
“A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I’ll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family!”
Scrooge doesn’t merely feel different—he acts different. His repentance bears fruit in reconciliation.
That’s the power of divine love. It does not stay private or hidden in the heart. True love moves toward others, restoring what sin has broken, healing what pride has wounded. As Jesus taught in Matthew 5, love compels us to go and make things right before we come to worship. Reconciliation, in God’s kingdom, is worship.
Scrooge’s transformation mirrors the gospel truth that grace always overflows. When God changes us, the love He plants within us cannot stay confined. It spills over into generosity, forgiveness, and compassion.
This is the message of the fourth Advent candle—the Candle of Love. Love is the fulfillment of Advent’s hope, peace, and joy. It is both the evidence and the expression of a redeemed heart.
As you reflect today, ask: Where might God be calling me to make things right? Is there a relationship in need of healing, a word of apology left unspoken, or an act of kindness waiting to be offered?
Spend time with today’s curated artwork, a tender depiction of Scrooge’s reunion with Fred and his family—a visual echo of reconciliation’s warmth. Then, listen to the Advent Playlist selections for this day—songs of restoration and love, such as “Love Came Down at Christmas” and “O Holy Night.” Let their beauty soften your spirit and move you toward peace with others.
Prayer
God of Love and Restoration, thank You for reconciling me to Yourself through Christ. Where I have wounded others, give me courage to seek forgiveness. Where I have harbored resentment, teach me to let it go. Fill my heart with Your love, so that I may extend it freely to those around me. Make my life a living testimony to Your grace—a story of reconciliation written by Your hand. In the name of Jesus, who makes all things right, Amen.
O Come, O Come Immanuel
Latin Hymn, 12th century
Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)
O Come, O Come Immanuel
Latin Hymn, 12th century
Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)
Playlist Daily Highlight
We’ve provided multiple versions of this classic Christmas carol. Listen to your favorite style, but also try something new!
See if you find a new appreciation for this song or a different version than what you’re used to.
Take the time to listen . . . really listen to the words of this song and reflect on them. Let God speak to you in this moment.