Advent – A Time to Return to the Lord And Acknowledge Him Alone As God

The first reading for the first Sunday of Advent is taken from the book of Isaiah, the great prophet who lived in the eighth century BC. Isaiah prophesied during a time of political turmoil and spiritual decline for the people of Israel. He warned them of the impending judgment of God for their sins, but also offered them a message of hope and consolation. He spoke of a future restoration, a new exodus, and a coming Messiah who would save them from their enemies and establish a reign of peace and justice.

The passage we read today is part of a prayer that Isaiah composed on behalf of the exiled Israelites, who were longing for God’s intervention in their situation. They had been taken captive by the Babylonians and had lost their land, their temple, and their identity as God’s chosen people. They felt abandoned, hopeless, and guilty.

In this prayer, Isaiah acknowledges God as their Father and Redeemer, the one who has always been faithful to them and has given them a glorious name. He also confesses their sinfulness and their need for God’s mercy. He asks God why He has allowed them to wander from His ways and to harden their hearts. He pleads with God to return to them, to show them His face, and to act on their behalf. He expresses his desire for God to rend the heavens and come down, to perform awesome deeds that would astonish the nations and reveal His glory. He compares God to a potter and the people to clay, affirming their dependence on Him and their trust in His hands.

This prayer is relevant for us today, as we begin the season of Advent. Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ, both at Christmas and at the end of time. It’s also a time of repentance and renewal, a time to examine our lives and to turn back to the Lord. Like the exiled Israelites, we may feel distant from God, or discouraged by the troubles of the world. We may have strayed from His commandments, or neglected our relationship with Him. We may have lost sight of our true identity and destiny as His children and heirs.

But Advent is also a time of hope and expectation, a time to renew our faith and our love for God. Like Isaiah, we can call upon God as our Father and Redeemer, the one who loves us and has a plan for us. We can confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness and grace. We can plead with Him to come to us, to show us His face, and to act on our behalf. We can express our desire for Him to do great things in our lives and in our world. We can affirm our dependence on Him and our trust in His hands. we must however do all this with hearts that are completely turned towards Him, and are completely open to HIm.

As we enter this Advent season, let us make this prayer of Isaiah our own. Let us return to the Lord with all our hearts, and wait for Him with patience and joy. Let us prepare ourselves for His coming, and welcome Him into our lives – our whole lives and not just a part. Let us remember that He is our Father, that He alone is God, that He is Redeemer, and that He will never forsake us.

Trust in God