“The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” Isaiah 40:5 (Context: Isaiah 40:1-5)
This passage has words spoken by the Lord as a promise to Israel to comfort them while in exile and to give them hope. It is also a promise for us, a promise of an Advent or an arrival of what or who is hoped for, longed for, watched for. The Season of Advent is a period during which we await the arrival of the long-promised Messiah. I love to read the Messianic promises of the Old Testament foretelling the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord.
We know that the first coming of Jesus, the Incarnation, is a historical fact. We look to Him and His teaching in Scripture to know and obey Him. We also know that He will return – there will be a second coming, another Advent. This we affirm in the Eucharist: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.”
So each Advent, celebrating and singing “It came upon a midnight clear,” we anticipate Christmas morning and the birth of Jesus, the Word made flesh; and we wait and watch for Him to return in glory.
As the psalmist wrote: “Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is The King of glory.” Psalm 24:9-10
Lastly, we have Jesus’ promise: “Surely I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Mary Langeland
Mary is a founding member of Servants of Christ. She serves as the Pastoral Care Committee Convener and works diligently to send prayer and praise requests to our many prayer warriors.