Friday, December 17, 2004
Isaiah 40:1-2 "Comfort, yes, comfort my people!" Says your God. "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the lord's hand double for all her sins."
FRAGILE: HANDLE WITH COMFORT
In school I once read a play by Tennessee Williams called THE GLASS MENAGERIE. As I recall, the play was about an extremely introverted young woman who collect little glass animal figures. Her favorite was a tiny unicorn. In the story with her was also her brother and mother. These two characters had problems of their own. None of the characters, in fact, were very well adjusted. At the end of the play the glass unicorn was somehow broken. I'm no great analyzer of Broadway plays, but he meaning of this play seemed rather obvious. That, when it comes right down to it, people are like fragile, glass figurines, extremely breakable.
The season of Advent and Christmas are a special time to remember we aren't so tough, and to learn, again, to depend upon the LORD for everything. It is a time to remember that we have shelter from the storms of life. With the Word we are led by the Spirit into the sanctuary of the Bethlehem stable. It is cold and cruel out in the world. But there, by His Manger, it is warm and safe. For our God is there, come down from heaven to taste our fears and to dry our tears. We are not so strong, but we are invited to lean upon Him Who has unfailing strength. We are not so wise, but in His Truth we have light to guide us though all the dark confusion. In love He bids each one of us, "Come!" And so we kneel before Him, just as we are -- sinful, breakable, worn and weary. We lay our every burden beside His bed of straw, and then watch as He carries them, everyone, all the way to the cross. Then finally we stand back in total wonder as our sins are laid upon Him, the Sinless One, We are amazed because, in exchange for our sins, we receive the double blessing of pardon for our sins, and life without end.
So hear the words again. Let them wrap around you like a warm blanket against your sorrows and your sins. "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your God. "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the Lord's hand Double for all her sins."
Those are God's own words to you ...
Words to keep fragile folks like you and me from breaking. 