Word to the Wise
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 - Wednesday in the Second Week of Advent
[Isaiah 40:25-31 and Matthew 11:28-30]Do you not know or have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the eartth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint! [Isaiah] Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. [Gospel of Matthew]
Isaiah's majestic words continue to lead us through Advent! I could not help, after reading all those words about YOUNG people growing weary and faint, how we older folks (I'm 66) will make it all! But all of us need encouragement -young and old alike! Clergy and those who are in the "helping professions" know that the secular celebration of Christmas places a terrible burden on many people. For the poor and the homeless, any celebration at all may be a question. For those who are celebrating Christmas for the first time since a loved one has died, there is renewed grief. For those who are very ill or have lost their employment or suffered a broken relationship, depression is their burden - not made any easier by the "cheeriness" of the cultural celebration. For the rest of us, the rather frenetic pace of ordinary life seems to ratchet up even more and "holiday fatigue" sets in earlier and earlier in the season. Isaiah and Jesus offer us a source of encouragement. Can we take a few moments each day and light an Advent candle or at least read the words of the scripture for the day? Can we especially remember in prayer all those I mentioned above and maybe reach out to them? Can we just look at that "crib set" we just took down from the shelf and ponder the persons (and animals) whose lives were impacted then, and how our lives are impacted now? All of this can put a different perspective on the perennial questions about gift-giving and food preparation and guestroom cleaning, etc. etc. that can make us weary. Our celebration will be closer to our faith in the event for sure! AMEN
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