Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent -- four weeks of preparation and anticipation leading up to the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Immanuel (Lord with us). The history of the people of God is one of waiting -- it still is. We wait for what one day will be, even as we attempt to partner day by day with God in the what is. The history of the people of God is one of hoping -- it still is. We hope for what one day will be, even as we attempt to partner day by day with God in the hope of what is. We hope, we wait, and in the midst of the hoping and the waiting, God is there inviting, leading and guiding us.
Advent is a time to enter more fully into the already and not yet reality of the Kingdom of God. We wait and hope as Israel did, waiting and hoping for God's Kingdom to break in -- even as it has already done so.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear,
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.
How does the reality of hope sit with you as you sit with it today?
It might be that you are in a place of seeming hopelessness, as were the disciples of John the Baptist who went to Jesus and asked him, doubtingly, “are you the one, or should we look for another?” My prayer for you, “O come, O come, Emmanuel, and rescue captive Israel.”
It might be that you are in a time where the hope of Jesus is obvious, as did Peter who by the grace of God was able to recognize Jesus saying, “you are the Christ, the son of the living God . . . to whom else would we go?” My prayer for you, Rejoice! Rejoice!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.(Romans 15:13)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment