Dec. 9, 2019
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 – Scripture Reading
A laila, ʻī akula ʻo Maria, Ke hoʻonani aku nei kuʻu ʻuhane i ka Haku; Hauʻoli nō hoʻi koʻu ʻuhane i ke Akua i koʻu mea e ola ai: No ka mea, ua nānā aloha mai ʻo ia i ka haʻahaʻa o kāna kauwā wahine. Eia hoʻi, ma nēia hope aku e ʻī ʻia mai au e nā hanauna a pau, He pōmaikaʻi. No ka mea, ʻo ka Mea mana, ua hana mai ia i nā mea nani noʻu. He hemolele hoʻi kona inoa. – Luka 1:46-49
My soul is ecstatic, overflowing with praises to God! My spirit bursts with joy over my life-giving God! For he set his tender gaze upon me, his lowly servant girl. And from here on, everyone will know that I have been favored and blessed. The Mighty One has worked a mighty miracle for me; holy is his name! – Luke 1:46-49
He manaʻo o ke kahu
KS Kapālama Hope Kahu Barrett Awai
We have ʻike of our ancient ways of showing reverence in the presence of our aliʻi by bowing and not being in contact with even their shadows. This was mandated and if not done, was punishable by death! Yet the scripture above tells us of the voluntary falling to the ground in worship of the Christ Child with no punishment!
KS Kapālama senior Chelsey Sagon’s message below of this type of worship comes from a true heart of worship like the Magi! With jubilation, it points to “the star” that is Jesus! May our hearts worship as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! Mele Kalikimaka kākou!
He manaʻo o ka haumana
Hope Keiki Kahu Chelsey Sagon
I’ve always been that girl staring in awe at the night sky. Feelings of hope and wonder always fill me up when I sit under a blanket full of stars. I can only imagine how the Magi felt as they faithfully followed that star in the sky that shined through night and day. When they arrived at the manger, overflowing with deep emotional gratitude, the Magi fell to the ground in worship when they saw the child Jesus. This is worship!
Worship unto the Lord is praising Him in adoration for all that He is! It’s presenting Him with all that you have! He is the King that deserves nothing but the best! What does this look like in our everyday life and what would it look like if we trusted God in everything we do? How would that feel to follow God like the Magi?
I love the line in “Revelation Song” that says, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty who was and is and is to come. With all creation I sing, praise to the king of kings. You are my everything and I will adore you.” Like the Magi, we can come to Him with the best gift – ourselves – to live in honor and praise to Him.