The Lord Will Answer You

Advent Day 7

First Saturday in Advent

December 3, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 30:19 (NRSV)

¹⁹ Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He (the Lord) will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you.

Theme: The Lord Will Answer You

Reflection:

The Lord will answer you! The Lord will be surely gracious to you at the sound of your cry. In this Advent season, in our worship, in our prayers and in our preparations we cry ‘Come Lord Jesus, Come!’ When you say these words are you merely following the traditions of Advent, or do you say them with the faith expressed in Isaiah’s words, believing that ‘the Lord will answer you’? Do we really think we can count on God to answer our prayers and send Jesus to us?

What signs and wonders will be the clue for you that God has answered your plea: ‘Come Lord Jesus Come’? Some of us pray for a vision of Christ, and some of us hope for just a sense that we are not alone. God may answer your cry in many different ways. There are many different narratives of the experience of perceiving Christ.

Some tell stories of having been lifted from the brink, physically feeling a sense of support. Others tell of having heard a voice at a time of great despair. Yet others tell of having seen some image that alerted them to the presence of Christ when they felt very alone.

In the 21^st century, when we count on reason and science, it is sometime difficult to trust in these shadowy, mysterious experiences. These experiences of Christ are usually very intimate and may be very difficult to share. In this Advent season, if you have experienced Christ in some way, pray about it, thanking God for having answered your plea. If you are able to talk about it, share your experience with someone you love and trust; your witness may strengthen someone else’s faith.

The Lord will surely answer your plea. “Come Lord Jesus, Come!”

Prayer: Mysterious God, in this Advent season, help us to pray with conviction “Come Lord Jesus, Come”. Strengthen our faith and help us to trust that you indeed hear and answer our pleas. Amen