Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Precious Blue Hope of Advent
in the Golden Light of Christ
Deuteronomy 8:7
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills,
Romans 8:32
He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?
Words of Grace For Today
A land flowing with streams, springs and underground waters welling up.
In this part of the world this is the way of the earth. Fresh water is abundant in Canada, more so than in any other place in the world. Swamps are common, the earth’s water recycling systems. Streams flow full. Lakes dot the land.
But in most of the world, and in the desert lands of Abraham and Sarah with the dry wind pulling water right out of your skin, a land with water was a dream of heaven on earth.
As God provided water for God’s people, so God has provided all that God’s people ever needed, not as we might have wished or dreamed, but as God chose.
Today, for us, God still provides.
So we wait, patiently, for the coming of the Christ, bringing a new earth and new heaven, with homes for everyone.
Why rush past the waiting?
It does us no good. Christ does not come sooner, or better. Christmas does not come sooner or better.
Shopping does not contribute to Christmas much at all. It more detracts from it, as we bury ourselves from Christ’ call in consuming more and more and more and giving more and more and more to wrap and tag with a name and watch to see if the recipient really wants that THING.
God sends God’s son, Jesus. No wrapping, no name tag.
Jesus is not to hide or reveal. He comes to make obvious what is already been given through the Law and the Prophets: God loves all creation and all people.
God desires that we live abundantly, not self destructively.
Jesus requires no name tag to identify for whom he comes; he comes for ALL people, all creation, to give all people life abundant.
Wait. Stay alert. Remember. Hope. Hold the precious blue of advent hope in view. Christ is coming, Christ is near, Christ is here, as God has been since before time.