Let me hear what God will speak, ... Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. God will give what is good… from Psalm 85
Did you ever ponder how some things in life just fit together – like Advent and Christmas, mustard and baloney, bread and butter, popcorn and movies – you know what I’m talking about – some things just naturally seem to go together. However – because life is what life is – the things that go together don’t always remain together. Like all the plastic food containers without their lids or that one lonely sock in the bottom of your suitcase.
I’m sure – you – if you are 7 or older, realize that sometimes throughout the days and months and years some of the things that belong together – for whatever reason – get separated, become alienated and lost. Maybe you - and your best childhood friend - or your lover - are estranged. Perhaps you are separated from someone you love – someone who has had great impact on your life and now you aren’t speaking and it feels too hard or hurtful to reach out for renewal and reconciliation. Well, this is a good season for you.
As we move through Advent - waiting, preparing, reflecting and repenting, we are reminded once more that this journey offers expectation of a time when God will embody within us the realm of God – the kingdom of God - which is now and still to come. The Psalmist from today’s reading forecasts a time when things and places in our lives that appear to be separated will be healed and reconciled. The Psalmist tells us of a glorious day of salvation when love and faithfulness will meet together, righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Difficult to imagine isn’t it – difficult to discern this time of peace and hope within the world we know and experience. I think that’s why we need Advent and Christmas – a period of expectation and reflection as the season points us again and again – year after year – to the birth of Jesus. I don’t understand this but what I believe is - the birth of Christ changed creation and the order of things as we have known them. His birth put something new into motion – into action – God’s plan to bring together the things that belong together and have throughout time become separated – you know – you and me, our neighbors and friends - us and God. The Psalmist sings and rejoices for the day peace and righteousness will reign throughout the universe.
As you reflect upon your life and loved ones this season – upon the things that belong together but are separated, may you find love, hope, joy and peace in God’s never failing promise that what has been broken can and will be made whole.
That was marvelous and reached me at a time when I needed the reminder of that peace that reaches out to us before we are even reconciled. And while recognizing the larger and eternal themes this creature who is fleshly bound was happy for the message that God plans to bring together things that belong together. I will believe that and in doing so share with you some lack of understanding even as I rest faith in this hope.
ReplyDeleteThanks much for these words.