How good are you with patience, and waiting? It’s not always my strong suit. With short waits, like standing in the check-out line at Walmart or sitting in the doctor’s office, I’ll visit with somebody, scroll on my phone or even take out a book to read. I want to do something constructive so I’m not wasting time. Other waiting is longer and more difficult, though, like waiting for health to be restored after an illness, or for the next job to materialize, or for wars to end, or for deep emotional wounds to heal. For some things, you may be waiting your whole life.
“Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Lord…” James says to his early Christian community (James 5:7).
Our season of Advent before Christmas is all about waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus, and this past Sunday our readings especially pointed to the good things that will happen for God’s people when the Messiah comes. The prophet Isaiah said, “The desert shall rejoice and blossom… the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped… the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy… the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing …sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:1-10).
Like James’ community, we also wait for Jesus to return and look forward to great rejoicing when that day comes. As Christians, we also believe God is already present every moment in his creation, loving and caring for us.
Are we able to see Isaiah’s words being fulfilled today, and rejoice in God’s healing presence in our midst now?
Think about the physical healings you have experienced. Surgeries, medications, assistive devices, extraordinary lifesaving interventions -Jesus heals us through the brilliant human minds that do the research, create the technology, and provide the care that move us towards health and wholeness.
Do you know anyone who was blind to kindness or justice who “saw the light,” turned their lives around and are now compassionately responsive to the needs of others?
Do you know anyone who was wounded in their past now putting the pieces of their life back together so they can rise up and live again?
Do you see anyone acting for justice and peace in their community, working to bring hope and dignity to the poor and marginalized people around them?
Do you hear anybody preaching the unconditional love of Jesus for all of God’s children and welcoming everyone to God’s table?!
These are all signs of the presence of Jesus being made real in the world – cause for great rejoicing!
Sharing in the giving and receiving of God’s love and care is the constructive thing we can all do while we wait for Jesus’ final return. It is truly a joyful thing and helps make God’s kingdom more of a reality. It might even make us a little more patient while we wait!
Trinity Episcopal Church welcomes you each Sunday at 10:00 a.m., where you will find a warm congregation, uplifting liturgy, and the good news of God’s love shared in word and sacrament. Christmas Eve worship will be at 6pm with carols beginning at 5:30pm. All are welcome! Come be part of a community that stands together in faith and love.
