Word to the Wise
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 - 2nd Week of Advent - Wed
[Isa 40:25-31 and Matt 11:28-30]Do you not know or have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not grow faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He givees strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound...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]
The passage from Isaiah is taken from what scripture scholars call the "Book of Comfort" which is addressed to a people in exile who were showing signs of losing hope. In today's gospel scripture, Jesus says, "My yoke is easy, and my burden light." In both cases, the thrust is to give hope to those who are tired and discouraged.
We do not have to look far to find people who are losing hope. If the news media reports from abroad are not enough, we have the reports of riots, deportations, homelessness and other tribulations right on our doorstep. Violence is often the result of a people who feel they have nothing to lose. How can we who have faith offer hope to those who are losing hope?
Each one of us has to look to his or her own life and ask what is the source of our own hope? Is there a way we can articulate that in a word or a deed? Sharing hope is really the meaning of the Advent season. The challenge is to look for the right opportunity, which should not be too difficult because the needs are so great. We can give that strength of hope that Isaiah speaks of and the lighter burden that Jesus speaks of. We can put skin on Advent if we try. AMEN