December 18th - Reflection

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (NRSV)
Show the light of your countenance

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!

Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved. ...

But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Then we will never turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Reflection
We need the Light of God to shine for and in and through us. We come from the darkness of sin, death, pain, illness, and suffering and need the Light of God to shine. And for this Light we wait this Advent season. We wait for that great Light to shine in the darkness. We wait and pray for that salvation only the Light can provide. We depend on the Light that shines so brightly that night years ago.

And as the Light shines, we see and believe. We hear the Word made flesh and listen to the teaching. We see the Light of Christ in this world of our darkness and gather together in awe of what God has done. We stare into that bright face of Jesus that we may be saved.

Prayer
Lord stir me up. Stir up my very soul that I may see the light of your face and believe. --- Amen