Isaiah 9:2-3, 6
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light.
They lived in a land of shadows,
but now light is shining on them.
3 You have given them great joy, Lord;
you have made them happy.
They rejoice in what you have done,
6 For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Reflection
On this first Sunday in Advent we hear these words from the prophet Isaiah and we hear that the light is already shining. His words echo the longing of the people of Israel who waited for a Messiah, the expected one who would bring about an age of peace.
The light is already shining!
And we are carried along with the Israelites from darkness to light, from despair to hope. The long awaited Messiah is about to be born, maybe is already in their midst.
Advent is all about preparing the way for this babe, this Christ child, the one who will illumine our darkness. Preparing ourselves, opening up ourselves: our hearts and our minds to the possibility that this year Christmas will make a real difference in our lives.
I don’t know about you, I pray that you are all doing well but this second wave of COVID, it’s hitting harder, more people are getting sick, more people are dying, more people are seeing their lives falling apart. My heart breaks everyday as we see the numbers climb higher not only in Canada but around the world. It is a dark time for many.
This passage, this good news is for us. On this first Sunday in Advent a light is shining in the darkness, there is hope. Yes, it is only one candle, it is only one light but there will be more. There will be candles of peace and joy and love. And finally, the Christ candle and when that is lit - there will be radiant light. The child will be born, the Messiah will come, the light of the world will shine and our hearts will be glad.
In Isaiah 35 verses 1-2, 5-6 we hear what it is like for God to prepare the way, prepare us for the coming of the Messiah:
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
This is the abundance that God’s love promises, an overflowing of hope, peace, joy and love.
We have so much to share with one another and we are finding ways to reach out, to connect, to be together or at least 6 feet apart together. We are finding ways to be shining lights for one another. As I look out my windows at night I can see the Christmas lights of my neighbours twinkling, a rainbow array of happiness and anticipation and expectation. Christmas is coming and the Christ child will be welcomed into our lives. Our hearts will overflow with the promised hope, peace, joy and love that God has promised us.
We never really know how Christmas will come upon us, there is always that uncertainty (OK it is usually over presents) – but an uncertainty nevertheless, that this Christmas will… I don’t know but somehow be different, be the year that something changes how I look at the world, something changes how I am in the world, that the experience of Christmas is deeper – not higher, not more but touches something that has gotten hard, or jaded or protected over the years. Like a desert blooming, like a people waiting year after year for the Messiah, our one Advent candles shines in the darkness.
Today God has gathered us into a community of Hope. Let us rejoice!
Prayer
Holy God, hope is fundamental to our faith.
Just like when we lit the first Advent candle this morning and saw one small flame burning, we know from our own lives that a small ray of hope can make a huge difference.
We, also, know that hope should be shared with everyone: families, neighbours, friends and enemies.
This morning our prayer is that we will be that small candle burning, that our hope will burn brightly, and join with others to make a real difference in our families, our communities and our world.
Amen
here to edit.
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light.
They lived in a land of shadows,
but now light is shining on them.
3 You have given them great joy, Lord;
you have made them happy.
They rejoice in what you have done,
6 For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Reflection
On this first Sunday in Advent we hear these words from the prophet Isaiah and we hear that the light is already shining. His words echo the longing of the people of Israel who waited for a Messiah, the expected one who would bring about an age of peace.
The light is already shining!
And we are carried along with the Israelites from darkness to light, from despair to hope. The long awaited Messiah is about to be born, maybe is already in their midst.
Advent is all about preparing the way for this babe, this Christ child, the one who will illumine our darkness. Preparing ourselves, opening up ourselves: our hearts and our minds to the possibility that this year Christmas will make a real difference in our lives.
I don’t know about you, I pray that you are all doing well but this second wave of COVID, it’s hitting harder, more people are getting sick, more people are dying, more people are seeing their lives falling apart. My heart breaks everyday as we see the numbers climb higher not only in Canada but around the world. It is a dark time for many.
This passage, this good news is for us. On this first Sunday in Advent a light is shining in the darkness, there is hope. Yes, it is only one candle, it is only one light but there will be more. There will be candles of peace and joy and love. And finally, the Christ candle and when that is lit - there will be radiant light. The child will be born, the Messiah will come, the light of the world will shine and our hearts will be glad.
In Isaiah 35 verses 1-2, 5-6 we hear what it is like for God to prepare the way, prepare us for the coming of the Messiah:
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
This is the abundance that God’s love promises, an overflowing of hope, peace, joy and love.
We have so much to share with one another and we are finding ways to reach out, to connect, to be together or at least 6 feet apart together. We are finding ways to be shining lights for one another. As I look out my windows at night I can see the Christmas lights of my neighbours twinkling, a rainbow array of happiness and anticipation and expectation. Christmas is coming and the Christ child will be welcomed into our lives. Our hearts will overflow with the promised hope, peace, joy and love that God has promised us.
We never really know how Christmas will come upon us, there is always that uncertainty (OK it is usually over presents) – but an uncertainty nevertheless, that this Christmas will… I don’t know but somehow be different, be the year that something changes how I look at the world, something changes how I am in the world, that the experience of Christmas is deeper – not higher, not more but touches something that has gotten hard, or jaded or protected over the years. Like a desert blooming, like a people waiting year after year for the Messiah, our one Advent candles shines in the darkness.
Today God has gathered us into a community of Hope. Let us rejoice!
Prayer
Holy God, hope is fundamental to our faith.
Just like when we lit the first Advent candle this morning and saw one small flame burning, we know from our own lives that a small ray of hope can make a huge difference.
We, also, know that hope should be shared with everyone: families, neighbours, friends and enemies.
This morning our prayer is that we will be that small candle burning, that our hope will burn brightly, and join with others to make a real difference in our families, our communities and our world.
Amen
here to edit.
