Advent 15

The Third Monday of Advent, December 15, 2008

Isaiah 8:16-9:1 

But men will say to you, “Seek guidance of ghosts and familiar spirits who squeak and gibber; a nation may surely seek guidance of its gods, of the dead on behalf of the living, for an oracle or a message?”  They will surely say some such thing as this; but what they say is futile.  So despondency and fear will come over them, and then, when they are afraid and fearful they will turn against their king and their gods. 

Fear is a nearly worthless spiritual emotion, but combined with repentance, connected to a contrite heart that wants to do good, it can be useful. We messed up, and the process brought great misery to a people far away, and to our own young men and women.  Let us, this Advent, have the courage to admit what we did, tell God that we want to turn away from war and be a people who build up, not destroy. Let us then be still.  Let us stop debating and defending, and listen.  Listen with the ears of our hearts.  It will take time to quiet our noisy lives, our racing minds, but it is worth the effort. 

Are you still?  Are you listening?  Do you hear Him?  A child is crying, hungry.  Do you hear the rustle of his mother’s clothes as she picks him up, feeds him?  Do you hear Joseph’s breathing as he watches his wife and newborn son? 

Go in.  Sit beside Joseph.  Give your allegiance to this Child who hungers for justice, and who will lead you in the right paths.  If you stay by him you will not seek advice from ghosts and so-called oracles; if you stay by him you will have a companion in righteousness all the days of your life. 

And beyond.