THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT | A CHILD FOR ALL HUMANITY
“Advent is a time to get back in touch with the ancient longing for God to arrive, move among us, and restore all that’s lost or broken.” (Sustainable Faith)
I don’t know about you, but I’ve really felt that ancient longing this week. It’s not unfamiliar. I think every night for the past 8 years I’ve laid my head down on the pillow after long and weary days with only the words “Jesus, please come. Father, please be with me. Daddy, please help.” Oh, that ancient longing - to be comforted, to be restored, to rest.
During the darkest week of the year, on these cold and rainy days sitting in stressed-out, backed-up traffic and being sick myself while caring for sick babies and hearing disturbing stories about dead babies - this week I really, really needed to know that God came as a baby. Oh, in all of this broken longing I seem to so easily forget that God has actually been here, to this place where we so desperately need him.
As I rocked a feverish baby and watched the snow swirl quietly outside the window, I wondered if the baby Yeshua ever had a fever, rocked by a worried mother. Strangely, I was comforted by the image of a flushed and sniffly savior. God came and made His dwelling among us, snot, dirt, humanity and all.
As I gaze at today’s four dancing flames and ponder what words I can share with you this week, I can really only think of this:
Jesus has come. He will come again.
Thank God.
I am tired.
May all of our hopes be more than just a dream in our hearts. And with just three more days until Christmas, I pray you can lay it all down and get some rest..
Let’s pray this prayer together:
“SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL,
MAY JESUS, EMMANUEL AND SON OF MARY,
BE MORE THAN JUST A DREAM IN OUR HEARTS.
WITH THE APOSTLES, PROPHETS, AND SAINTS,
SAVE US, RESTORE US,
AND LEAD US IN THE WAY OF GRACE AND PEACE,
THAT WE MAY BEAR YOUR PROMISE
INTO THE WORLD.
AMEN.”