“Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.” God wants us to be comforted so that we know we do not have to endure our struggles day to day without the knowledge that God is with us and loves us so very much. God’s comfort is in the form of the Redeemer, Jesus the Christ, and the promise of a new heaven and earth free of the mortal hardships we now endure, the sadness, the pain and death.
“Prepare the way for the coming of our God!” Jesus is “God with us”. Jesus is the shepherd that will gather the flock into his arms and lead them with great care! Isaiah encourages us to be comforted and to prepare for the coming of God! In the second reading this week from 2 Peter 3:8-14 Peter reminds us that God does not delay, and that the day of the Lord will come and then the heavens and earth will pass away and a new heaven and a new earth will take their place, and righteousness will dwell there. In the Gospel according to Mark 1:1-8 we are reminded of Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming of God! Here we are told about John the Baptist who prepared the way for the coming of God and how he baptized people with water as they repented their sins. John proclaimed that one mightier than he was coming! John baptized with water…He will baptize with the Holy Spirit!
Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of the Messiah! Joyous is the season! How awesome is our God who is a mixture of power and divine tenderness! Take time to cherish God’s great love for us and embrace that love and what the coming of Jesus means to all of us! Jesus, who came to save the world by overcoming sin and even death! Jesus who taught us what we are, spiritual beings! Jesus who showed us how to obtain our spiritual, sanctified life!
Just as you would prepare your house for anticipated guests, you should prepare your hearts and your minds for the anticipated Messiah! Rejoice in the coming of our God, Jesus who is God with us, and one of us, sharing our humanity and making a path for us to ascend into our spiritual being and life everlasting! Make a straight path for the Lord into your whole being that is unobstructed by sin and worry! Repent of your sins! Prepare that way of the Lord! Focus on your path in life; meditate on the Word of God; and wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord Jesus! He is coming…we have a little time to prepare ourselves for His arrival!
Our Psalm this week is Psalm 85: Let Us See Your Kindness O Lord (I believe this is in the Breaking Bread hymnal, #795 “Let Us See Your Kindness)
R.: Let us see Your kindness, O Lord. Grant us Your salvation, O God.
God, how I long for the peace You proclaim. Your salvation and glory is near to all who
revere Your name.
R.: Let us see Your kindness, O Lord. Grant us Your salvation, O God.
Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring forth from the earth and justice shall rain from heaven.
R.: Let us see Your kindness, O Lord. Grant us your salvation, O God.
You yourself, will give these gifts. Our land shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall walk before You and salvation along Your way.
R,: Let us see Your kindness, O Lord, grant us your salvation, O God.
O Come O Come Emmanuel!