Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Gen 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-8; 2 Pet 1:12-21; Mt 1:1-7, 17

The scepter will not depart from Judah,
    nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[b]
UNTIL he to whom it belongs] shall come
    and the obedience of the nations shall be his.   Genesis 49:10 

May he ENDURE AS LONG AS the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.
May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
    like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.    Psalm 72:5-7
 

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving THE END RESULT of your faith, the salvation of your souls.   1 Peter 1:8

For,“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord ENDURES forever. 1 Peter 1:24

This is the genealogy  of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:…. Thus there were fourteen GENERATIONS in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.   Matthew 1: 1&17

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Waiting, is there anything more prevalent in the Advent days? Waiting for the Messiah, waiting for the Christmas break, waiting for Christmas morning, waiting for family members to arrive, waiting for the Christmas break to be over, waiting for those credit card bills to arrive …. Waiting….

All of the readings refer to an undefined but lengthy passage of time, using words of UNTIL, AS LONG AS, THE END RESULT, ENDURES, GENERATIONS. Such a journey, such a time can seem forever, assured of a destination, but no idea of when.  

Last year, when Allan and I were in Ottawa visiting family, we enjoyed the green belts surrounding their neighbourhood. The photo is of one of those trails. We walked on layers upon layers of leaves. When they were actually on a tree? Unknown. We saw the many fallen trees, bursting full of new life from their decaying limbs. Isn’t death the end? How did the rain get though all those trees? The trail, not paved, was still defined by the footsteps of years and years of walkers. And at unexpected points, the golden sun would burst through the verdant cover, illuminating all the fall colours that Eastern Ontario is known for.

The sense of age, agelessness, life and death all wrapped into one short walk, struck me as the eternal promise of God. Of undefined paths, yet formed through generations. Of unseen, unknown destinations, but assured that there is one. Of the understanding, that there is a plan, but not ours to know. Of the knowledge that, whatever the path, whatever the shade or dark, there will be light, there will be salvation, we will not be left to walk it alone. In inexpressible and glorious joy, thanks be to God.

by Sylvia Besplug

 

 

“Thy Word”  Amy Grant