Waiting for Justice
"If only you would tear open the heavens and come down!"
Welcome to the new cycle of Jesus Daily. During Advent, each day we will have a passage from Isaiah and a corresponding or resonating passage from the gospels. Further, you are invited to read the whole of Isaiah during Advent according to this schedule. For instance, today would be Isaiah 1-4. When the twelve-day season of Christmas begins, we’ll read all of the gospel passages related to the Christmas story, leading us to Epiphany.
Today, we begin simply with a passionate request from the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 64:1-2 | Luke 24:13-21a
Reading through Isaiah during Advent: Isaiah 1-4
You have days like verse 1 of Isaiah 64, right? Where you want to cry out in exasperation to God…like, “What the heck is going on and why aren’t you doing anything about it?!”
The world often feels like that. Maybe it feels like that to you right now. War, refugees, political debauchery and the misuse/nonuse of power, no one seems to really be in charge, the extreme disparities of wealth and resources…and so on.
Oh that God would tear open the Kingdom of Heaven and emerge with justice - to set things right.
The biblical nation of Israel often felt like this - that God needed to show up. That the messiah would come and restore the glory of Israel like David did. Generations of exile and captivity will do that to you.
Advent is a time in which we are reminded about the centuries of waiting Israel endured until the coming of Jesus. In many ways, the Church is waiting for the same today. Advent observes both the coming of Christ in the first place and our expectation that he will come again.
But what are we expecting? Those who met Jesus the first time around had expectations of God when the messiah would show up. What are our expectations? Would we, too, miss Christ when he comes again?
Isaiah 64:1-2
If only you would tear open the heavens and come down!
Mountains would quake before you
like fire igniting brushwood or making water boil.
If you would make your name known to your enemies,
the nations would tremble in your presence.
Luke 24:13-21a
On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from recognizing him.
He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, their faces downcast.
The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?”
He said to them, “What things?”
They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel.
Prayer
God,
In these times, I’m not sure whether to pray for you to go ahead and send Jesus or not! On the one hand, it seems like it would be nice - to put it lightly - for everything to just end. For all the pain in the world to go away. On the other hand, it seems like we’ve some significant work to do before I’d really want you to show up in person.
I fear both of those options and my feelings about them have exposed my complete lack of understanding in regard to how you view it all.
But I do know that the world needs your justice.
So that’s what I’m praying for today, God. Bring your justice. Make things right. Do your work in the world in and through me and your people, clothed with the compassion of Jesus.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Blessings!