Tenacious and resiliant, growing out of a wall and flowering in the most unlikliest and barren place. There can be blooming even when life is harsh.
(I got told off by Mr W for leaning over the wall to take the photo, but I’ve lived to tell the tale!)
Many layers. Formed over many many years. How many layers make up life…
You rose
with your scars.
You were resurrected,
bearing those marks.
Scars we can touch
and know
and know that you know.
New life,
carrying the scars
of all that had happened,
all that had been,
all ‘they’ had done.
Today
that seems important.
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
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.”
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!
O Lord the Clouds are Gathering
