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Even us sinners qualify!
From Isaiah 40:1-11: 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 for all her sins. A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
There were three deaths that affected our family directly and indirectly. One was my first cousin, Bobbie Garibaldi; the second was the mother of my sister-in-law; and the third was the grandmother of a family friend. Three instances where comfort was, and is, needed. A significant church here in our district found out that their beloved pastor was moving to another church who also found out their beloved pastor was moving. Another church is saying goodbye to a retiring pastor, and just last night met their incoming interim pastor. "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God." Still others are finding out their job status may be changing. Some are discovering they no longer have the job they have had for some time. "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem..."
Advent is a time of hearing the cries for comfort and being the voice of the One who provides it. God is not through with us yet. This seemingly never-ending pain or discomfort is not the end. The prophet said of one whose voice would be like one in the wilderness, but one with hope in it: "Every valley (low point in life) shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill (obstacles and challenges in our path) will be made low. Even those places where the ground seems uneven, shall become level, "and the rough places a plain." Yes, God's comfort is for all people, with even us sinners included!
Our voice should be, even in the midst of our own personal challenges, that which says, "God's not finished with us yet! There is still hope coming!" Today, more than previous days, the Church (that's you and me) is called to stand in places where we can be heard with that message that is one of "good tidings" and one that says, God "will feed His flock like a shepherd; God will gather thee lambs in His arms, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep."
Find your spot. Raise your voice!
PRAYER: Loving God, let it be that today my voice will be the one heard by those in need that God, You are at work in our lives and needs. May it be a message of peace, joy, and hope that I can proclaim, for Your sake and the sake of Your people. I pray in the Name of He who brought peace, joy, and hope to my life, Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
