Introduction

The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the December 2009 meeting. The text from Isaiah is the Psalmody for the upcoming Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent.

Reading

¹You will say in that day:
I will give thanks to you, O LORD,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
and you comforted me.
²Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the LORD GOD is my strength
and my might;
he has become my salvation.

³With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
⁴And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the LORD,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.

⁵Sing praises to the LORD,
for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
⁶Shout aloud and sing for joy,
O royal Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 12:1-6, NRSV)

Meditation

When we began our journey through Advent, we turned our attention to St. Luke’s gospel. We are so familiar with how he begins his account of the Good News of Jesus. He tells us how his Son comes and lives among us—as one of us—sharing every experience of human birth and life.

And throughout the gospel, Jesus touches people, both physically as he heals them, and spiritually as he forgives their sins and leads them to changed and obedient living.

There’s one encounter that happens after Christ’s resurrection that can come to mind as we prepare for the past, present, and future comings of our Lord in Advent.

Two followers are walking on the road to Emmaus toward dusk on the first Easter. They are drawn into a conversation with a stranger. They talk about the Scriptures and the news of Jesus’ crucifixion. Then they share a meal, and when the stranger takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them, their eyes are open and they recognize him as Jesus.

And they remarked: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32, NRSV)

When we listen to Isaiah, his prophecy shares a similar experience with us. He speaks of a time when God’s people know his anger and the sense of loneliness that comes with it. But then God comforts, saves, and shows his strength and might. And in the end, the people sing for joy. Why? Because the Holy One of Israel is “great in [their] midst.”

He is great in our midst too! He came into our midst—helpless and homeless—as a baby. He comes into our midst in Word and Meal and Bath. He will come again into our midst “on that day” when we will finally recognize him and feel our hearts burn within us. Then we will “draw water—with joy—from the wells of salvation” and give thanks to the LORD with everything we have.

Discussion

• Have you felt God’s anger or his absence? In the end, how did he comfort you?
• What can we do together to “give thanks, call on the Lord’s name, make his deeds known, and exalt his name?”
• What parts of Advent, and preparing for Christmas, make it hard for you to sense the presence of Jesus? What parts help?
• What can we do as leaders to help our parish embrace Christ “in our midst?”

Prayer

Lord God, we are thankful for coming into our midst in Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord. Help us to listen to him, to enjoy him in our presence, and to be aware of how he can make our hearts burn within us. Strengthen us, so we may give you thanks, call on your name, make known your deeds, and exalt your name in all that we say and do; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.