In the days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains. Isaiah 2:2
From Mountain to Manger Today’s reading is part of a promise. When God spoke through prophets like Isaiah, mountains portrayed majesty and might. They were valued as majestic guardians of nations, respected as sources of mighty natural forces.
Isaiah calls this highest of the mountains the place where people learn to walk God’s way. On this mountain, people shall learn of war no more. Emphasizing God’s way of peace, Isaiah uses an image beloved by many in our time: “…they shall beat swords into plowshares…spears into pruning hooks...nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn of war anymore.”
In our time, we are also confronted with images of war. These images include children and the elderly running for their lives amid explosions, caused by powerful machines of warfare that fly, or float, or propel projectiles that destroy dwellings, hospitals, and schools.
In contrast, Advent boldly raises Isaiah’s prophetic promise of God’s way of peace, anticipating a manger, not a mountain. The manger will cradle a way of peace that transforms all creation.
The hope of God’s people is stirred by the odd majesty and might of this manger. Stirred, so that we pray “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus;” so that we embrace the beleaguered and dying singing “Comfort, Comfort Now My People;” so that, as we wait, we “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah.”
Mighty and majestic God of all creation, may we be stirred to new confidence in you by the birth of Jesus in a lowly manger.
The Rev. Dr. Samuel R. Zeiser is Bishop, Northeastern PA Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
No comments:
Post a Comment