It’s cold. As in the kind that slaps you in the face when you walk outside, cold.
I’m not sure the Semitic people experienced cold like we do – those polar surges in the Midwest like the one this week. But they must have faced some of it for why else would the Psalmist cry out, “before such cold, who can stand?” (Ps. 147). I’ve said this before, but such cold takes a lot out of you. The seemingly effortless activities the rest of the year become true labors. For those of us with cars outside, windows need to be defrosted. And any trip to run an errand includes getting slapped all over again by that cold.
It’s no wonder half of my congregation goes south for the winter.
But, maybe there is some value to the struggle after all. Maybe it puts us in the right frame of mind to receive the Advent news.
Today’s readings are for those who are struggling. They are for the ones who are pushing through and not getting anywhere. They’re readings for the guy who is scraping his windshield off at 6:00 am in the dark of night, and for the woman trying to fight off the sickness that is draining her energy.
“Do you not know or have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, … He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound …”
And then these famous words:
“Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).
Sooner or later something is going to get to us. It may be something momentary and trivial like the cold. Or a winter bug. But, it could just as well be that other stuff. Feeling the crunch of poor financial decisions throughout the year. The MRI scan that came back with something the doctor wants to do some more tests on. The history of mental illness in your family that has come back home to roost again.
Avery Dulles was born into a distinguished family. His father would go on to become the U.S. Secretary of State, and Avery would ride his family’s fortunes to Harvard and eventually into a long and prosperous career as a theologian and servant of the church. But, towards the end of his life, it was weakness that he became. A second bout with polio left him paralyzed and unable to speak. For decades, he was one of those “young men” from Isaiah’s reading, the one whose strength abounded for years. But, it was when his physical body began to stagger and fail when the Lord’s promises and assurances really began to calm and strengthen him, so much so that he could write, “If the Lord now calls me to a period of weakness, I know well that his power can be made perfect in infirmity. ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord.’”
Some of Jesus’ most powerful words – the ones that will always be such comfort – are spoken for men like Avery Dulles: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Beautiful words for the cold days of winter.
Beautiful words for those times when we’re just struggling to get up and get going.
Beautiful words for when we can well remember the times when we were running, but also can’t help but know that we’re stumbling now.
Are we loved when we are able to do great things for the Lord? Yes.
But, are we also loved when we are weak and in need of rest? Oh, yes.
That’s when the mystery of God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.
~Wes
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