Friday, December 16, 2011

God has saved His “people from the east country and from the west country” in Jesus

The Old Testament reading for today comes from the Book of Zechariah. It picks up on a reoccurring theme in the Old Testament, God’s concern for those who have no voice, for those who vulnerable and weak:

The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not to hear. They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. Just as, when I called, they would not hear, so, when they called, I would not hear, says the Lord of hosts, and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and a pleasant land was made desolate.

The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness. (Zechariah 7:8-8:8)

The prophets continually tell the people of Israel that keeping faith with God means caring for those who have no voice, the weak, the widow and the orphan. Yet Israel does not listen to God’s messengers, to His prophets. Advent is a reminder of us of how the weak and oppressed awaited the coming of the Messiah. The Messiah did come; he came as one of us to be one with us. We remember the promises made to Israel in the Old Testament and we rejoice because God has saved His “people from the east country and from the west country” in Jesus, the Christ. God has remained faithful and righteous. Rejoice!

Let us pray: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

The Advent Series (Hope, Peace, Joy and Love) continues this Sunday after the service. This is the last in the series, and this Sunday we will reflect on Love.


Christmas Schedule: Christmas Eve, Saturday, 24 December, Rite II, 5 p.m. Christmas Day, 25 December, Rite II, 9 a.m.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Cindy Katz, Robert Strawder, Katie Putman, Roylene Lemons, the unemployed, the addicted, the poor, the weary, the depressed, the lonely, and those who have no one to pray for them, and we pray in thanksgiving especially for all of those marked with the sign of faith, especially Nora and Stanislawa and for John who expresses Christ’s love by his generosity.

“O God of our fathers, and Lord of mercy, who has made all things with your word, and ordained man through your wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which you have made, give me wisdom that sits by your throne so that I might understand what is your will and be saved. For I am your servant. Amen.” — St. Cyril, 9th century apostle to the Slavic people

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

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