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1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2 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. 3 A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 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. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." 6 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. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 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!" 10 See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 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. (Isaiah 40:1-11 NRSV)
Happy Wednesday, dear ConCafe family! And a special day of joys and opportunities to serve Him, whose birth we await to celebrate, and Whose glorious return will be tremendous! Reports from The Rev. Scott Bradford is that his surgery went well and as of yesterday morning, he was recovering well. Please add The Rev John Alsbrooks and his wife Sharon to your prayers as both of them have Covid-19 and are recovering well with what they are calling mild cases. John pastors a small church with about 16 faithful and it is believed one lady adamant about her not having to wear a mask that might have infected half of that church. Prayers for healing of all who have Covid. Prayers for one another. Prayers for ourselves.
Being called by God to be one of His prophets must have been the most difficult tasks of the ancient world. The prophet had to literally speak to God and listen to God, so that he could speak for God. The modern day preacher who does not spend time talking to and listening to God will not have a true word to share with God's people. The Bible tells of reluctant prophets who have said yes and who almost fainted when told of what they should be preaching. And some prophets, like Jonah, just ran! And you saw where it got them! But Isaiah here is hearing the words Israel needed to hear. Comfort and forgiveness are necessary and great words to hear especially after their wicked ways were exposed and God forgave them. Then the prophetic word that made some say, "Huh?" And words that sat dormant in understanding and meaning until centuries later. "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." I would imagine that the prophet being in the Spirit knew immediately the import of each message and prayed more to have the strength to preach and record this important word from God to God's people. The lack of a "highway for our God" was because of their actions. Spiritually, they were in the wilderness longer than they should have been. The paths and deviations off any main road had been caused by careless thoughts and reckless decisions of the people; in contrast a highway for God implies that many can fit on it if they so decided to follow God once again. The valleys were those of depression and hopelessness, again self-caused; the mountains and hills were self-built obstacles to reaching God's glory; these needed to be leveled only by He who could do so, God Himself. The uneven ground, shaky at best when level would be a firmer foundation, and the rough places could become a plain, easier to access; and then, the prophet smiles as he writes, "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together."
The passage ends with God telling the prophet to proclaim this truth; God is coming in a way we have never seen before, and He comes not empty-handed, but with a reward and recompense. Those who see this will become as sheep, totally and completely dependent on God; and God will gather all in His arms and carry all in His bosom, and lead them as the people knew only God could. This is a message of Advent; from despair and hopelessness will come hope; from misery and suffering will come glory!
PRAYER: Yes, come Holy Father, in Thy time to rescue us; nudge, push or prod us towards the direction we should go; and as we go remind us to pick up those who are still lost and hurting. Make it so in our hearts, our homes, our communites, our states, and our nation and let us be a light to all the world; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Do your part of making straight and even the paths that lead to God in your own life first, then lead on as one guided by God!
Receive my blessings of love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
