Richard Ethun, proud husband of Karen and dad of Elizabeth, Angela and Cecilia; member for 30+ years; and Sunday School Teacher of the Good Will Class

Jeremiah 29:11-13

11For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, 

 

Reflection:

I am an early riser. I usually get to my 15th floor office by 6 a.m. every work day and by 7 a.m. on Saturdays. I love the quiet and stillness of the city in the early morning. And one particular morning, not long after setting our clocks back, as I was turning on the office lights and opening the blinds, I let out an audible gasp. Before me, spread across the length of my office windows, was the full expanse of morning sky ablaze with red and orange tinged clouds catching the rising sun. Backed by patches of clear blue sky and various shades of grey clouds, the visual effect was quite literally breathtaking. I quickly turned off the lights I had just turned on so that I could enjoy the full sky without reflection from fluorescent bulbs and just stood there enjoying the heavens—the work of God’s fingers. And to think we get two original works of art like that every day, morning and evening, for free.

 

Along with the quiet and stillness of early morning, I love the possibility a new day brings. Along with my normal ablutions, I read scripture, I listen, I pray and ask God and his Spirit to help me be the person he has called me to be this day.  Every day is the same for me. Not that I am a creature of habit or anything, but I do the same thing every day. So maybe I am. One morning recently my scripture reading was from Jeremiah and I found it particularly hopeful.

I’m sure you remember that Jeremiah authored both books of Kings, Jeremiah, and Lamentations.  And you are right that by in large these are not happy, hopeful books.  Jeremiah is cursed with clear vision about what God expects and what a succession of inept kings keeps delivering. And what is a prophet to do but call it like he sees it. Let’s just say that Jeremiah would not be the first person you would invite to speak at your son’s Bar Mitzvah. In fact, he is often referred to as the Weeping Prophet. And yes, the same guy who wrote Lamentations is the one I found so hopeful. It is because he saw the coming darkness, it is because he had to speak truth to power, it is because he heard the keening of parents for their lost children, of husbands for lost wives and mothers for lost families. That when a person so familiar with pain, loss, and failure will then write: For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. I think we should pay attention. 

This is not just Advent, it is the morning of our Christian year. It is dawn with all of the possibilities inherent in God’s offering to us, his promise to never leave us, the gift of his son Jesus Christ. How can we not be hopeful and trust in him? Look to the dawn and the coming of Advent.

Prayer:
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the Spirit of your love, send forth your Spirit and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.  Oh God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy your consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.