First Sunday of Advent - The Waiting

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:  they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. [...]
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The might God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

Isaiah 9:2,6-7

Today marks the first Sunday of Advent, where we remember the hope and promise of a coming Messiah, as well as looking forward to the promise of His return.  We live in a similar hope today, looking forward to the second coming, when will be restored.  We can understand that longing, that hope.  

It’s on this day we focus on the waiting.  The promised, but not yet fulfilled.  The already/not yet.

And it’s on today we experience the absolute truism - the waiting is the hardest part…

In this tension, we look to the past and see the promises fulfilled.  We see all of the promises and prophecies that Jesus’s birth fulfilled.  Depending on your definition of prophecy, there are 200 to 570 prophecies fulfilled just by the brith of Jesus.  That’s an excellent track record and one that should give us great comfort and hope in the 1,845 references to Jesus’s second coming.

And that can provide a great comfort.  It is of great consolation that we can be assured that Jesus will come again.  That He will make all things new.  That there will be a day when there is no more - no more sickness, no more war, no more death, no more suffering.  Oh Glorious Day!

I’m convinced, though, we have a greater hope and comfort than that.

Because we are not just saved to eternal life, but to a life more abundant and full here on earth.  We are not just called to sit on the sidelines and “wait ‘til Jesus comes.”

Our waiting in an expectant waiting.

We are called to prepare the way, which is the focus of the second week of advent.  The preparations made and preparations necessary.  The things we should be found doing when the second coming arrives.  To continue to be about His purpose and His mission here on earth.

For we also should be expectantly waiting for God to show up in our everyday lives.  We should fervently and expectantly waiting for miracles to arrive in our lives and the lives of those around us.  To see healing happen, in bodies and in relationships.  To see lives changed and turned from the depths of despair into the heights of hope.  To see churches, and towns, and cities, and counties, and states, and nations fervently change direction and seek God.  To see those locations feeding the hungry, clothing and sheltering the poor, nurturing the immigrant and stranger among them regardless of status, caring for the sick and dying.

We should be waiting on God on a daily basis.

So it begs the question, where are you waiting on God?

Are you waiting for physical healing?  Are you hurting and in need of comfort?

Are you waiting for mental healing and strength?

Do you need comfort from grief and sorrow?

Do you need housing?  Clothing?  Financial stability?

Where are you waiting for God to show up?  And are you expectantly seeking Him?

Are you asking “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”

This is where we can aid each other. To comfort each other. To support one another. To come alongside in the waiting. To share burdens where we can. 

And to continue to lift each other up. To continue to pray, come thou long expected Jesus.  Come again as we know you will. And come into this moment now with us. 

Holy Week 2023 - Holy Saturday

Here the whole world (stars, water, air, and field, and forest, as they were reflected in a single mind) like cast off clothes was left behind in ashes, yet with hopes that, in lenten lands, hereafter may resume them on Easter Day.

-  C.S. Lewis - 

Holy Saturday reflects on an interesting period of time in human history.  The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  That period between death and resurrection.  The period between the event that causes suffering and the event that brings deliverance.  The eternity between sorrow and joy.

In the Easter week, Friday is definitely a difficult day.  It's the infliction of pain.  It's the day where the death occurs, the suffering is inflicted.

But to me, Saturday, that next day has to be the worst.  It's that period of waiting.  Of reality setting in.  The shock wears off, and everything is real.

On Friday, they were experiencing everything as it was happening, perhaps holding out hope for a miracle to completely change their circumstances that day.  Perhaps in complete shock through the whole experience.

Saturday is the day everything sharpens.  Jesus died.  And for all the disciples know, he is not coming back.  It's that period we all find ourselves in, where all we can do is just wait in our suffering.  And I do not know about you, but I'm terrible at waiting.  I want solutions. I want action.  I want to change things, now.   And the fact always remains that you cannot rush this time.

Saturday is when grief begins.  

The good news is that we know it does end.  It does get better.  "Every storm eventually runs out of rain."  Especially, for those that follow the Way, for those truly living the life He has called us to, we know the end.  Even if we do not see the victory here, we know who holds it in His hand.

It's Holy Saturday.  But Easter is Coming!

Today Thou dost keep holy the seventh day,
Which Thou has blessed of old by resting from Thy works.
Thou bringest all things into being and Thou makest all things new,
Observing the Sabbathh rest, my Saviour, and restoring strength.

Holy Saturday

Here the whole world (stars, water, air, and field, and forest, as they were reflected in a single mind) like cast off clothes was left behind in ashes, yet with hopes that, in lenten lands, hereafter may resume them on Easter Day.

-  C.S. Lewis - 

This year, I've been looking over a post from a couple of years ago on Holy Saturday.  The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  That period between death and resurrection.  The period between the event that causes suffering and the event that brings deliverance.  The eternity between sorrow and joy.

In the Easter week, Friday is definitely a difficult day.  It's the infliction of pain.  It's the day where the death occurs, the suffering is inflicted.

But to me, Saturday, that next day has to be the worst.  It's that period of waiting.  Of reality setting in.  The shock wears off, and everything is real.

On Friday, they were experiencing everything as it was happening, perhaps holding out hope for a miracle to completely change their circumstances that day.  Perhaps in complete shock through the whole experience.

Saturday is the day everything sharpens.  Jesus died.  And for all the disciples know, he is not coming back.  It's that period we all find ourselves in, where all we can do is just wait in our suffering.  And I do not know about you, but I'm terrible at waiting.  I want solutions. I want action.  I want to change things, now.   And the fact always remains that you cannot rush this time.

We're all in the waiting now.  With rolling state-wide and nation-wide stay at home orders, lockdowns and shutouts, everyone is waiting on a change.  Waiting for this to end.  Waiting for hope that this too will pass.  Some of us are adjusting better than others, but we are all struggling to adapt.

The good news is that we know it does end.  It does get better.  "Every storm eventually runs out of rain."  Especially, for those that follow the Way, for those truly living the life He has called us to, we know the end.  Even if we do not see the victory here, we know who holds it in His hand.

It's Holy Saturday.  But Easter is Coming!