Advent 4
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
Object:
(See Advent 1, Cycle B, and Proper 15/Pentecost 13/Ordinary Time 20, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)
The recurring phrase, "let your face shine" (vv. 3, 7, 19), offers an interesting opportunity to reflect on the meaning of God's presence in our world. This reflection takes on a particular significance during the Advent season.
The images of light and "shining," are associated with God throughout the Bible. From the moment God said, "Let there be light," light has been the defining characteristic of God's presence. God appears as light to Moses in the bush that seems to burn. God burns like a pillar of fire, leading Israel out of Egypt. The light is even infectious. After Moses spends time with God on the mountain, Moses himself begins to glow.
The light is symbolic of God's power and purity. Light is the opposite of darkness, which is often associated with evil. Light is good, life-giving.
But, the light associated with God is otherworldly. It does not have its origin in this world. The shining character of God's presence overwhelms us, drives us to our knees, and humbles us. We become like Isaiah in the temple, cowed by God's glorious appearance and by the rush of awareness of our sin that becomes evident in God's light.
That's one reason the imagery of light is so prevalent during the Advent season. The "light of the world" has come. We celebrate this glorious coming with candles and bright lights -- all dim reminders of the hope and life that are found in God's presence. We sing with the psalmist "let your face shine," and pray for the salvation we need.
God does just that. Ironically, the shining of God's face is displayed in a human face. The ultimate appearing of God in our world is not as a supernatural shaft of light, but rather as a humble human being. The fullness of God's glory is revealed in a human face.
This, of course, changes everything. It changes the way we think about God and God's glory. God is with us, like us. It changes how we think about power and influence. God doesn't overpower us or force us or blind us. Rather, God walks with us, embraces us, becomes one of us.
Of course it changes everything we think about ourselves. Whatever view we once held of our human existence, and the value of being a human, is transformed forever in the belief that God became human with us. It changes how we think about one another. How can we ever call another person our enemy when that person reflects in his or her face the divine glory? How can we neglect the needs of a single hurting person when we realize that by neglecting them we neglect God?
We prayed with the psalmist, "let your face shine." And it has. God's face has illuminated the world for all time. The brightness of God's glory has sent its beams into every dark crevice and hole. The light of the world has come; God's face is shining. We have seen him, beheld his glory, and touched his flesh and heard his voice and felt his tears and watched him die.
Shine, O Lord, shine. Let your face shine in the life of your Son in our presence.
-- J. E.
The recurring phrase, "let your face shine" (vv. 3, 7, 19), offers an interesting opportunity to reflect on the meaning of God's presence in our world. This reflection takes on a particular significance during the Advent season.
The images of light and "shining," are associated with God throughout the Bible. From the moment God said, "Let there be light," light has been the defining characteristic of God's presence. God appears as light to Moses in the bush that seems to burn. God burns like a pillar of fire, leading Israel out of Egypt. The light is even infectious. After Moses spends time with God on the mountain, Moses himself begins to glow.
The light is symbolic of God's power and purity. Light is the opposite of darkness, which is often associated with evil. Light is good, life-giving.
But, the light associated with God is otherworldly. It does not have its origin in this world. The shining character of God's presence overwhelms us, drives us to our knees, and humbles us. We become like Isaiah in the temple, cowed by God's glorious appearance and by the rush of awareness of our sin that becomes evident in God's light.
That's one reason the imagery of light is so prevalent during the Advent season. The "light of the world" has come. We celebrate this glorious coming with candles and bright lights -- all dim reminders of the hope and life that are found in God's presence. We sing with the psalmist "let your face shine," and pray for the salvation we need.
God does just that. Ironically, the shining of God's face is displayed in a human face. The ultimate appearing of God in our world is not as a supernatural shaft of light, but rather as a humble human being. The fullness of God's glory is revealed in a human face.
This, of course, changes everything. It changes the way we think about God and God's glory. God is with us, like us. It changes how we think about power and influence. God doesn't overpower us or force us or blind us. Rather, God walks with us, embraces us, becomes one of us.
Of course it changes everything we think about ourselves. Whatever view we once held of our human existence, and the value of being a human, is transformed forever in the belief that God became human with us. It changes how we think about one another. How can we ever call another person our enemy when that person reflects in his or her face the divine glory? How can we neglect the needs of a single hurting person when we realize that by neglecting them we neglect God?
We prayed with the psalmist, "let your face shine." And it has. God's face has illuminated the world for all time. The brightness of God's glory has sent its beams into every dark crevice and hole. The light of the world has come; God's face is shining. We have seen him, beheld his glory, and touched his flesh and heard his voice and felt his tears and watched him die.
Shine, O Lord, shine. Let your face shine in the life of your Son in our presence.
-- J. E.
