Advent Reading for Wednesday, Week 2 (December 7, 2022)

 

The Season of Advent prepares us for Christ's coming--both on Christmas Day and when we comes again in glory.  This year, we will spend each week exploring a different way we can prepare ourselves.  The post for each day will include a scripture, a song, a few brief questions to reflect upon, and a prayer. 

 

Week 2 Reminder

This week, our readings focus on "Repentance."  The Hebrew word for "repent"  תשובה (teshuva) means to return or turn back.  It's Greek counterpart μετανοώ (metanoeó) means to change one's mind or purpose--particularly when that change is as a result of accepting God's will.  For a longer description of repentance, refer back to the reading, for Sunday, Dec. 4.

Scripture

Isaiah 401-5, 28-31

40 Comfort, O comfort my people,
    says your God.
² 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.

³ A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴ 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.
⁵ Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken...”

 ²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹ He gives power to the faint
    and strengthens the powerless.
³⁰ Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted,
³¹ but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.   (NRSVUE)

 

Hymn

Questions

It can be hard to know what to say when we encounter those who are being crushed by sin, sorrow, or oppression.   

• Thinking back to Isaiah’s writings, what words of comfort might we be able to provide? 
•  Do you believe those words yourself?

Prayer

Christ, help me bring comfort and hope to those who are suffering under the weight of sin and sorrow.   Amen.