Isaiah 55

Let’s be honest, anticipations of company coming can ignite hope; and it can also create dread. It is according to who the company is. We look forward to those people who show up with a fruit basket. I’m not talking about apples and oranges, but the fruit of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Tomorrow is the First Sunday of Advent (Coming). It is a time of anticipating and hoping for the coming of Christ. This is reflected in the words, “O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

He did come, and Heaven rejoiced at this gift of God’s Love wrapped up in the life of a baby. The angels said that Jesus’ birth was glad tidings of great joy to all people on the earth. That was a far cry from the arrival of Satan on this planet. That too was announced by the angels: “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth for the Devil has come down to you.” It is true, we do hope for some guest, and dread to see others.

It is time for each one of us to make room in our heart for Jesus, to prepare the way of the Lord, and to pray, “Maranatha” (Even so, Come Lord Jesus). Amen

“Come then o come glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary soul.
Come Thou O blessed hope of glory,
Never O never depart.
Whispering hope,
Oh how welcome Thy voice
Making my heart rejoice.”