December 5, 2010, Second Sunday in Advent
Scripture: Psalm 131
Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord – now and always.
There is a belief that experience should serve as our guide. That as we progress through life, the various experiences we’ve had will shape and form us into the person we are today.
Sometimes, though, our experiences may lead us down a wrong path. A person who was constantly neglected by a family member may believe that no one will be there for them. As well, someone who was abused by a spouse may feel as though every potential relationship with end in the same way. While our experiences can teach us, they can also misguide us and lead us to misconceptions about ourselves, our community, and, ultimately, about God.
The Psalmist recognizes this in Psalm 131. The image of a weaned child speaks of an individual who has had experiences in the world. Yet, it is not these images that the Psalmist calls Israel – and us – to place their trust. It is God who we are to place our hope and trust in.
The hope of God is that God’s love for us will never fail. It will never be removed. It is always there for us and is given freely. We know God will always be there for us. We can place our hope, our trust, and our confidence in that promise.
As we enter the Second Week of Advent, how can we live into that hope? How can we allow the hope of God to shape us and inspire us at home, in our communities, and in our lives?
Lord, We know your love is there for us. We place our hope and trust in you. Guide us this week that we may feel your love and be a witness of your love to others. Amen.
Shannon Blosser 