Second Tuesday of Advent (Year B)
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Isaiah 4:2-6 | Psalm 27 | Acts 11:1-18
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Advent Meditation by Helen DuBois
From Psalm 27
The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
Whom Then Shall I Fear?
The Lord Is The Strength of My Life
Of Whom Then Shall I Be Afraid
Psalm 27 speaks to much of what we are facing in this difficult time. There is fear, uncertainty, no ability to plan ahead and so much suffering. Many psalms begin with messages of despair and darkness but then end with a message of hope and light. The psalmist speaks of evildoers, foes and enemies surrounding him. But then he says that he will offer “sounds of great gladness; I will sing and make music to the Lord.” Even Psalm 22, which expresses such deep sorrow and suffering, has messages of praise and glory throughout the psalm.
It is easy to praise God when everything is going well, but how can we praise him and have hope when life is difficult? The last verse of Psalm 27 says, “O tarry and await the Lord’s pleasure; be strong and comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord.” Tarry? Wait patiently? Covid 19 has lasted longer than any of us imagined. And we are supposed to wait and have patience? Instead, what we want is for God to do something and to do it now! We fail to ask for what God wants or when he will answer us. Hope is something in the future that we cannot see and so it depends of faith and this may give us patience. We are now in Advent, a period of anticipation and waiting. I love the King James Version of the Christmas story which says about Mary, “the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.” Accomplished. This is not just the nine months it took for God, as a fetus, to become born, but in all the days of our existence. How long did the Jewish people wait for their salvation and their Messiah? This is expressed throughout the psalms and books of the prophets. God decided in his time to give us his Son. As difficult as it is, we are called upon to have faith and hope and patience to see through these times. And to try to praise God. knowing of his eternal love for us.
Rejoice in Hope
Endure in Affliction
Persevere in Prayer
Romans 12:12