Advent 4
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
-- Psalm 80:3
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we approach the tension between romantic images celebrating an ancient birth and a troubled world that desperately yearns for restoration. For the cynic, Christmas easily can be seen as a frivolous extravagance that ignores the real pain in people's lives. Even believers struggle with the relevance of faith to the fragile state of the world. We read the stories of God's intervention in Israel's life and wonder if it can happen again. If God is the shepherd who led "Joseph like a flock," why does God not "stir up (his) might and come and save us"? We can join with the psalmist in wondering why God does not answer our prayers and do something about this violent world. "You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure." It is no wonder that people are cynical about the relevance of faith. "You make us the scorn of our neighbors, our enemies laugh among themselves." While the psalmist was thinking of Israel, as we near the Christmas season, we think of Jesus when we pray, "But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself." Then, as Christians, we let that prayer be for the body of Christ that we might become God's healing presence in our troubled world. "Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved." We celebrate the birth of Christ and pray that the body of Christ might again give evidence of God's presence among us.
-- Psalm 80:3
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we approach the tension between romantic images celebrating an ancient birth and a troubled world that desperately yearns for restoration. For the cynic, Christmas easily can be seen as a frivolous extravagance that ignores the real pain in people's lives. Even believers struggle with the relevance of faith to the fragile state of the world. We read the stories of God's intervention in Israel's life and wonder if it can happen again. If God is the shepherd who led "Joseph like a flock," why does God not "stir up (his) might and come and save us"? We can join with the psalmist in wondering why God does not answer our prayers and do something about this violent world. "You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure." It is no wonder that people are cynical about the relevance of faith. "You make us the scorn of our neighbors, our enemies laugh among themselves." While the psalmist was thinking of Israel, as we near the Christmas season, we think of Jesus when we pray, "But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself." Then, as Christians, we let that prayer be for the body of Christ that we might become God's healing presence in our troubled world. "Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved." We celebrate the birth of Christ and pray that the body of Christ might again give evidence of God's presence among us.
