Advent - Dec. 4



Isaiah 26:1-6 (NRSV)

"Judah’s Song of Victory

26 On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city;
    he sets up victory
    like walls and bulwarks.
Open the gates,
    so that the righteous nation that keeps faith
    may enter in.
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—
    in peace because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
    for in the Lord God[a]
    you have an everlasting rock.
For he has brought low
    the inhabitants of the height;
    the lofty city he lays low.
He lays it low to the ground,
    casts it to the dust.
The foot tramples it,
    the feet of the poor,
    the steps of the needy"

   The footnote in my study Bible say this for this passage: " A processional song celebrating God's defense of Jerusalem and his defeat of its enemies."
   One commentary says this passage "portrays Jerusalem as a city of 'salvation', perfect peace, and refuge for those who continue to maintain 'trust' in God.
    I don't really know how this all connects with my personal Advent journey, but I do know that some days its hard to image what peace can really look like. I am thinking a lot today about what's happening in our country as a reaction to the verdicts in the Ferguson and Eric Garner cases.  Jesus came to bring peace - to teach us - and to show us how to bring about peace in our world. I guess we still have a lot of work to do. Sigh.

"Trust in the Lord. God sends us his only Son, who comes to bring peace."
- daily reading suggestion taken from the Advent 2014 calendar published by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

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