Tuesday, December 1
Strength of weakness
An excerpt from Micah 4:6-13 from NRSV
In that day, says the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away, and those whom I have afflicted. The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forevermore.
Reflection from Max Smith:
Honestly, any sentence that begin, “In that day…” makes me cringe. I have never longed for the future as I do now. Vaccine coming! Climate administration coming! New President coming! All of which, when they arrive will be very good. But when The Day of the Lord comes, it will be magnificent. Envisioning January, April, and (maybe even) next summer seems grim. But imagining The Day of the Lord, the Kingdom of God fills me with hope and energy. I need to be reminded frequently of that for which I truly wait. Sweeping, broad, all-inclusive justice!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia, Lord Most High!
Links for further study and prayer, the readings assigned for today are:
Psalm 79; Micah 4:6-13; Revelation 18:1-10
Music:
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”
Text: Liturgy of St. James;
arr. Robert Hobby
“Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descending,
From the realms of endless day,
Comes, the pow’rs of hell to vanquish,
As the darkness clears away.