Advent 12/19/22 Sacred Knowing

Destination Determined Monday, December 19
 
Isaiah 33:17-22 (NRSV)
 
Your eyes will see the king in his beauty; they will behold a land that stretches far away.
Your mind will muse on the terror: “Where is the one who counted?
Where is the one who weighed the tribute? Where is the one who counted the towers?” No longer will you see the insolent people,
the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, stammering in a language that you cannot understand.
Look on Zion, the city of our appointed festivals!
Your eyes will see Jerusalem,
a quiet habitation, an immovable tent whose stakes will never be pulled up and none of whose ropes will be broken.
But there the Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams where no galley with oars can go
        nor stately ship can pass.
For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our ruler; the Lord is our king; he will save us.

_____
 
The book of Isaiah is filled with such beautiful imagery! It’s hard not to read today’s devotion and not think about the larger ‘journey of faith’ that we all embark upon. In today’s world of chaos and discord, we long for the day where can look upon the Holy city of Jerusalem in all of its grandeur. We long for the day where we can feel safe from harm, and are sheltered from the daily traps and snares that lurk in our path. We look forward to the day where we can rejoice in the Glory of God for the rest of eternity.

Today’s devotion is also a fitting parallel to this season of Advent. The word ‘Advent’ is derived from the Latin adventus, meaning ‘to arrive’ or ‘to come’. As much as we are assured of the coming of the Christ child, we can be assured that our long-awaited rest in the Holy City will someday arrive. God has claimed us in the Sacraments. For those of us who, in turn, claim Christ in faith … our destination has already been determined. We will see Christ the King in all of His beauty. We will see a Kingdom that lasts forever. We will no longer be sidetracked by the distractions of this world. We will no longer have to suffer with the contrarians, malcontents and manipulators among us that seem to take joy in derailing our faith. Most importantly, God will, as promised, redeem and deliver us!

Embrace your Journey of Faith! Celebrate the times of joy. Endure the times of trial. Ask for God’s guidance when you stumble. Be assured that better days await, and that God will never fail us!

-Todd Hone