Tuesday 11 December 2007

Background

Isaiah is prophesying to a people who are as low as they canget. They are deflated, defeated, without purpose as a nation, andtheir only unity is in their lack of hope for the future. They feelabandoned by their God and their belief that once brought suchcourage is now of no use in their time of distress.

The words of Isaiah would have lifted the most dispirited ofIsraelites, "Comfort, O comfort my people… speak tenderly toJerusalem". Wow, what healing restorative words!

God, who seemed silent, now speaks gently to a people who could nothave coped with a prophecy of triumph and victory. God's words ofcomfort softly awaken hope for tomorrow and give sensitivereassurance that soon the struggle will be over.

The comfort on offer is not human but divine: it is not passivesympathy which offers a shoulder to cry on but an activetransformation of the situation. The way of the Lord is to show theway out of despair to a future of hope.

For the Church this Advent and Christmas there is a huge challengeto be those who proclaim the comfort of God to the oppressed,broken and despairing. This is a hope that brings a change ofcircumstance - not simply a temporary solace from the pain of lifeso easily done at the time of goodwill and peace to all people.

To Ponder

Have you ever felt that God was silent?

Have you ever experienced the comfort of God?What did it feel like?

As you look at your community and world, who arethose that need the transforming comfort of God? What can youand/or your church offer?