Advent I –
Reflections for the First Sunday of Advent 2015
The season
prior to the celebration of the birth of Jesus is called Advent in the church’s
calendar of worship. The next four Sundays I will off some of my own
reflections in the style of a reflection of a chosen text of Scripture.
This Sunday I
will reflect on a text often used on the first Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 6:1-7.
1
Nevertheless,
there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he
(God) humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future
he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
What a message
of hope! When people are caught up in a distressing time, they do not believe
they will find any hope. Ever been searching for that lost precious item? We
know the feeling of hopelessness. Into the despair of our world the Gospel
comes with hope. Around us are people who are filled with the fears of
terrorists. More terrifying than terrorists are the demons of depression and despair.
As a sign of
the fulfillment of the prophesized hope, this passage is quoted by the author
of Matthew’s Gospel (4:12-16) as he introduces the mission of Jesus.
2
The people
walking in darkness
have
seen a great light;
on those
living in the land of deep darkness
a
light has dawned.
Ever walked
through a dark tunnel? You know the delight of seeing the light. The darkness
in our world is called hatred, fear, pain, rejection, and depression. Into this
darkness, God speaks hope. There is more to the darkness that we are seeing.
The darkness does not contain the full story of our lives or our community.
3
You have
enlarged the nation
and
increased their joy;
they rejoice
before you
as
people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors
rejoice
when
dividing the plunder.
4
For as in the
day of Midian’s defeat,
you
have shattered
the yoke that
burdens them,
the
bar across their shoulders,
the
rod of their oppressor.
5
Every
warrior’s boot used in battle
and
every garment rolled in blood
will be
destined for burning,
will
be fuel for the fire.
Darkness does
not give up its prey easily or quickly. As I have worked with people trapped in
the darkness of depression, many have used metaphors such as dark tunnels, dark
clouds, prisons, closets to describe their darkness. Some have told me they
actually have crawled into a closet in their darkest hours. The battle for
light is intense and severe. As the bondage is broken the tools of imprisonment
even become fuel for light out of the darkness.
6
For to us a
child is born,
to
us a son is given,
and
the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be
called
Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.
Where does
this come from? Into this darkness a mere child is born who brings hope. He
comes bearing titles representing healing to those who welcome him. For those
broken-hearted he is the Wonderful Counselor; for the weak, he is the Mighty
God; for the insecure, he is the Everlasting Father; and to the battle-weary he
is the Prince of Peace.
7
Of the
greatness of his government and peace
there
will be no end.
He will reign
on David’s throne
and
over his kingdom,
establishing
and upholding it
with
justice and righteousness
from
that time on and forever.
A life lost in
the darkness of hopelessness is often a life marked by insecurity and
confusion. Into this insecurity and confusion, God brings the experience of security
and confidence. We can let hopelessness reign or we can allow God to reign.
Many of my clients tell me that their faith in God is their rock in the midst
of their bouts of darkness.
The zeal of
the Lord Almighty
will
accomplish this.
Who will bring
about the Good News of hope? All around are those who would terrorize us. They
would want us to collapse in fear. God is greater than your fears!
Ronald Friesen ©
2015
