Monday December 14

Scripture

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
-Isaiah 61

Hymn - Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending

Every eye shall now behold him,
robed in dreadful majesty;
all who set at nought and sold him,
pierced, and nailed him to the tree,
deeply grieving, deeply grieving, deeply grieving,
shall the true Messiah see.

Meditation

This is a passage originally penned by one of the great prophets of the Hebrew Bible, but later proclaimed by Jesus. It tells us that the mission of the one sent by God is a mission that affects all people, everywhere. It tells us that the things we value: money, power, autonomy - are of
little value to God who comes to free the oppressed. Those who are freed, in turn, work to build up the world. Where is God’s freedom at work in your life, in your community? Have you experienced joy here?