He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait
till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.
He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.
We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
Prayer
O Lord our God,
make us watchful and keep us faithful
as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;
that, when he shall appear,
he may not find us sleeping in sin
but active in his service
and joyful in his praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Justice, mercy and peace
align">Today is the last of the Advent ember days — days to pray for the ordained clergy. Pray for clergy and people in places where the church is prevented from ministry, such as Zimbabwe, and where women are excluded from ordination.
The Tree of Jesse, illumination, 12th-14th century.
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. Isaiah 11:1
Psalm 72, from the Ionian Psalter
Lutheran Church of Honolulu, Bach Chamber Choir
May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting. Amen.
