Advent Week 2: The Promise

Dec. 4, 2020

Contributed by Nadine Lagaso

Kamehameha Schools has created a series of Hawaiian-focused devotionals for Advent, to honor the deep Christian faith of our founder Princess Pauahi. The devotionals were designed to be used by staffers, students and others to celebrate the coming of Christmas, so please feel free to share them.

Heluhelu Baibala
ʻO ka mua o ka ʻeuanelio no Iesū Kristo, ke Keiki a ke Akua; E like me ia i palapala ʻia e ke kāula, e ʻIsaia, Aia hoʻi, ke hoʻouna aku nei au i koʻu ʻelele ma mua o kou alo, nāna nō e hoʻomākaukau i kou alanui ma mua ou. Ka leo o ka mea e kala ana ma ka wao nahele, E hoʻomākaukau ʻoukou i ke alanui no ka Haku, e hana i kona mau kuamoʻo, i pololei. Bapetizo aʻela ʻo Ioane ma ka wao nahele, me ke aʻo mai i ka bapetizo ʻana no ka mihi, i mea e kala ʻia mai ai ka hala. Hele akula i ona lā ko ka ʻāina a pau ʻo Iudea, a me ko Ierusalema a pau, a bapetizo ʻia ihola lākou e ia i loko o ka muliwai ʻo Ioredane, me ka haʻi ʻana mai i ko lākou hewa. Ua ʻaʻahu ʻia ʻo Ioane i ke kapa hulu kāmelo, a he kāʻei ʻili ma kona pūhaka; a he ʻūhini kāna ʻai, a me ka meli o ka nāhelehele. Aʻo maila ia, ʻī maila, E hele mai ana kekahi ma hope nei oʻu, ua ʻoi aku ia ma mua oʻu, ʻaʻole au e pono ke kūlou iho, e wehe i ke kaula o kona mau kāmaʻa. Ua bapetizo aku nō wau iā ʻoukou i ka wai; akā, nāna ʻoukou e bapetizo aku i ka ʻUhane Hemolele.
Mareko 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'" 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and [wore] a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Mark 1:1-8

He manaʻo o ke Kahu
KS Kapālama Kahu Sherman Thompson KSK’74

Advent is the time to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ coming to us at Christmas to receive Him as our Savior. For many, Advent is a time to let the scriptures take root in us. This week we hear about Jesus’ “forerunner” who prepares the way. Let’s ask ourselves, “Am I helping others prepare the way of the Lord?” Letʻs consider:

  • Jesus came to set people’s hearts and captives free. We can do that by spending more time listening and spendng quality time with others whose hearts need consoling.
  • Letʻs use our influence to build people up as Jesus did. We can lift the spirits of others by complimenting the good things they do, which will bring them closer to Godʻs love and devotion to his children, just like Ke Ali‘i Pauahi.
  • Letʻs be ‘onipa‘a (steadfast) in expressing and practicing graciousness to others and help them to practice benevolence and selflessness. Pauahi exemplified this in so many ways during her lifetime.
  • In our prayers consider those who may need help preparing for Christʻs birth and presence in their lives. Let’s try to be attentive listeners to those who need our time, patience and gentleness. Be the promise to others that can prepare Jesus’ coming and presence again this Christmas.

​He manaʻo o ka haumana
Logan Lau, KS Kapālama ‘22
We are told that a messenger will be sent and he will prepare a straight path through the wilderness for Jesus to travel. This scripture speaks volumes towards God’s promise to us. While God, being omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, always fulfils his end of the bargain, it is our job to remain steadfast in faith and be ready for when he comes again. Carrying Godʻs promise of coming to us, how can we be messengers to others that can pave the way for the Jesus in their lives? In that way, Godʻs promise can live and abide in you and me. 





KS Kapālama Kahu Sherman Thompson and Logan Lau KSK’22