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Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
-Isaiah 40:1-5
Advent is my absolute favorite time of year. It is a time to slow down and prepare. Well, that is how it is supposed to be, right? Yet, every year we heap on more events, more parties, more expectations for that perfect Hallmark Christmas moment. Isaiah is the perfect prophet for the season. He says “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.” Shed those unreasonable expectations of making worldly preparations. Take time to prepare your own personal inner space. “A voice cries out: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'” In the wilderness of our searching hearts, he implores us to prepare the way, to make a highway amidst our desert lives for our God. Preparing for God has nothing to do with what we DO, but everything to do with what we allow God TO DO with our hearts and our lives. Can we set aside time to be still and silent long enough amidst all the holiday preparations to allow the glory of the Lord to be revealed. That is the true focus of Advent.
Let us pray,
God of all hopefulness, we hear the voice of Isaiah, speaking words of Comfort and Preparation. Come and dwell in the pathways of our hearts, that we may be ready for the Messiah’s birth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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