December 13, 2009
READING: Isaiah 40:1-5
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid, that she has received from
the Lord’s hand double fro all her sins.
Isaiah 40: 1-2
As a singer who spends time every year performing George Frideric Handel’s beloved Messiah, these words of scripture are some of the most familiar to me. In his setting of the scripture, Handel repeats the phrase “Comfort ye, my people” several times. Repeated passages force the performer to find different levels of meaning, intent, and nuance within the seemingly simple words.
Each year when we read the accounts of Jesus’ birth, we too are forced to see the prophecies and the coming of Christ in new ways. The central idea of comfort within today’s reading can be a difficult one for us as disciples. Whether consoling a grieving friend or smiling at a disgruntled co-worker, we are beacons of comfort in this world. Whether sharing our faith in an intimate spiritual discussion or in our daily acts, we are reminders of God’s love.
While God charges us to comfort His people, He also challenges us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” Indeed, there is nothing simple or easy about this mission. In striving toward His call and aspiring to Christ’s example, God calls us outside of our own comfort zones. Complacency and contentedness are not options. We are to reach out to our fellow man in word and in deed. During this time of Advent, let us challenge ourselves and each other to leave the safety our comfort zones. By committing to even one random act of kindness each day, we can effect positive change in the world around us. We will never know the full impact of these comforting actions; however, we can trust that if we keep Christ at the core, then we will have been at least a small part in preparing a “highway for our God.”
Lord Jesus, help us to prepare for your coming, even when it takes us out of our comfort zone. Amen.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid, that she has received from
the Lord’s hand double fro all her sins.
Isaiah 40: 1-2
As a singer who spends time every year performing George Frideric Handel’s beloved Messiah, these words of scripture are some of the most familiar to me. In his setting of the scripture, Handel repeats the phrase “Comfort ye, my people” several times. Repeated passages force the performer to find different levels of meaning, intent, and nuance within the seemingly simple words.
Each year when we read the accounts of Jesus’ birth, we too are forced to see the prophecies and the coming of Christ in new ways. The central idea of comfort within today’s reading can be a difficult one for us as disciples. Whether consoling a grieving friend or smiling at a disgruntled co-worker, we are beacons of comfort in this world. Whether sharing our faith in an intimate spiritual discussion or in our daily acts, we are reminders of God’s love.
While God charges us to comfort His people, He also challenges us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” Indeed, there is nothing simple or easy about this mission. In striving toward His call and aspiring to Christ’s example, God calls us outside of our own comfort zones. Complacency and contentedness are not options. We are to reach out to our fellow man in word and in deed. During this time of Advent, let us challenge ourselves and each other to leave the safety our comfort zones. By committing to even one random act of kindness each day, we can effect positive change in the world around us. We will never know the full impact of these comforting actions; however, we can trust that if we keep Christ at the core, then we will have been at least a small part in preparing a “highway for our God.”
Lord Jesus, help us to prepare for your coming, even when it takes us out of our comfort zone. Amen.
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