We stumbled and floundered, we scrabbled and groped our way along. How could we see, for there was no light? Not where we were. Something had happened, something was missing. Someone had stifled all the light and left us. Darkness all around. Real darkness. Total black.
How can I get out of this? Who will rescue me? Lead me? Help me? Guide me? Who can bring a light, shine it on my path, that I may see? I can’t get myself out of here. Where would I start?
Someone, please, come and save me.
Lord,
you know the depth of the darkness,
the place of despair,
where there is no hope and no way out.
Reach into my darkness I pray.
Bring your light,
that I may be able to see a way out,
your way,
guiding me,
onwards,
with you.
Forgive me Lord,
the times that I have made the world a dark place.
When I have snuffed out light,
taken hope,
dimmed the light of your presence;
when I have abused life
and goodness
and justice;
when I have turned my back on you
and on others;
when I have failed to see,
because I wasn’t looking;
when I have ignored your call;
when I have behaved
as if I am the only thing that matters.
Forgive me Lord,
and bring light,
hope and peace,
to me
and to your world.
It can seem at times so hard to find any hope in the world, any glimmer of a different future, perhaps especially today, of a time when war and troubles are over, when sorrow has ended.
One thing the Old Testament show us is that Twas Ever Thus. Humanity has always done a good job of causing trouble for one another – mistreating, making enemies, creating disaster – generally trying to prove who is bigger, stronger and making the life of the weak and vulnerable even more precarious.
Into this God spoke. Into this God continues to speak. The Advent message of hope is as needed today as it was when the prophets first spoke it. God promises that this will end.
Why hasn’t he yet? Perhaps we haven’t given him chance, allowed him to. God is trying to stop wars and we keep starting them. We are still intent on proving who is better, more right – and we fail to live with one another, with tensions and different opinions. We struggle to do it over even small things, so no wonder we can’t do it over international conflict. And when weapons get involved, there will only be one end – more hurt, more destruction, more suffering for those who didn’t start anything.
Yet still God continues to stand with us, weep with and for us, and promise an end – just as soon as we let him. Sorrow will end. We will be safely home.
God will lead us home and we will be safely blessed – that is our Advent hope.
What am I doing to work with him?
O Lord,
I know you weep over humanity,
you are distraught
at the things we do to one another.
You promise to bring us home
to a place of safety
and joy,
but we carry on the fighting,
discrimination,
injustice
and wonder why you aren’t doing something.
Forgive me Lord
for the part I play
in keeping anger and oppression going.
Today
and tomorrow
may I work with you
to bring an end
that we may be able
to come home to you.
The theme of the first week in Advent is The Day of the Lord. We look forward to the coming of that day.
14 Everyone in Jerusalem and Judah, celebrate and shout with all your heart! 15 Zion, your punishment is over. The Lord has forced your enemies to turn and retreat. Your Lord is King of Israel and stands at your side; you don’t have to worry about any more troubles.
16 Jerusalem, the time is coming, when it will be said to you: “Don’t be discouraged or grow weak from fear! 17 The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.”
The Lord’s Promise to His People
18 The Lord has promised: Your sorrow has ended, and you can celebrate. 19 I will punish those who mistreat you. I will bring together the lame and the outcasts, then they will be praised, instead of despised, in every country on earth. 20 I will lead you home, and with your own eyes you will see me bless you with all you once owned. Then you will be famous everywhere on this earth. I, the Lord, have spoken!
_-_stained_glass%2C_The_Empty_Tomb.jpg)
