The Wilderness Way #27

By Bishop Mike Lowry ©

This time of Advent never fails to refocus me. It is a time to dive back into the seminal doctrine of the incarnation. God comes to us; God is with us – in a baby no less. Martin Luther wrote: “Let us, then, meditate upon the Nativity just as we see it happening in our own babies. I would not have you contemplate the deity of Christ, the majesty of Christ, but rather his flesh. Look upon the Baby Jesus. Divinity may terrify man. Inexpressible majesty will crush him. That is why Christ took on our humanity, save for sin, that he should not terrify us but rather that with love and favor he should console and confirm.” (The Martin Luther Christmas Book, translated and arranged by Roland H. Bainton, pp. 39-40)

Thinking of our own babies (now 31 and 27), I recall that our first child was premature. We were scheduled to begin Lamaze classes the day after he was born. I remember standing next to my wife while she was in labor. I had purchased a book on Lamaze and was reading to her as the labor proceeded. “Just breathe honey, just breathe!” If looks could kill, I would not be here today! Between breaths I was given rather clear instructions about putting the book away. And yet, in all my foolish innocence, just breathe was and is great advice.

In the chaos of modern living, it is hard to remember to just pause and breathe deeply. God is in charge. In the confusion of Christmas preparations, the best of us can lose sight of the need to catch our breath and slow down. Even more, when life is a mess, then breathing, really breathing, is difficult.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of just such a time. “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

The people are in a time of exile. We are in the wilderness. The nation of Israel has been defeated and decimated, conquered. Ours is engaged in war. Its people have been scattered to other nations. We are scattered in the confusion and dissension of our time and age. The prophets have interpreted this as punishment for her (the nation’s) sin; the reaping of the inevitable consequences of unfaithfulness. We have wild interpretations that run the gamut from damnation to exaltation. Life has been, and is, painful and hard. In great distress, in the agonies of the birth of eternity, the prophet speaks for God now a great word of comfort. “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.” (Isaiah 40:1-2) It is a loving word, compassionate advice, given in a time of agony and trial. You have not been forgotten. You haven’t been abandoned. The penalty has been paid for your sins.

Those same words apply to us this day. The same God speaks to us this day. It is hard to breathe when we are knotted up by our sin. It is difficult to move forward when life is a mess. This is true individually. It is true collectively – as a nation and as a world. Sin (whether it is ours or others) makes it difficult to breathe. And yet, while we breathe there is still hope. In the labor pains of a new world and new creation we need to remember to breathe. In the agonies of our time and age, we need to remember to breathe. When we are in exile and feel abandoned, just breathe. In Christ, the penalty has been paid for our sins. With God, there is still hope.

May you experience the joy of new birth in the wilderness of our time!

By: Bishop Mike Lowry On 12/10/2009

Topics: Bishop Columns