SBP Advent Day 2 - Saint Benedict Parish

Promises Remembered

Light one candle and say together
Come and save us, Lord our God; let us see your face, and we shall be saved.
(Psalm 80:3)

Reflection

Throughout this season of Advent, we'll be reading from the book of Isaiah many times. The book of Isaiah is known for containing prophecies that point to the whole scope of Jesus's life, despite the fact that Isaiah lived approximately 800 years before Jesus was born.

Isaiah was speaking to a nation of God's people who had turned their back on God. And even still, Isaiah was speaking God’s words and promising that a Saviour was coming. Imagine telling that to a whole community of people who didn't care.

Now imagine how God felt. God hand-picked this group of people to be His chosen people and His representatives on earth, but nearly none of them were choosing to live as if God mattered at all. If that was you, wouldn’t you just want to throw out all the promises you had made to these stubborn, rebellious people? But God doesn't forget about these people who forgot about Him.

When God promises something, His promises will be fulfilled, even 800 years later. The promised Messiah did come to save not just the people of God, but all people.

But before that night in Bethlehem, when that big promise was finally fulfilled, God didn’t ignore His people. God wasn't silent. God speaks. God was still reaching into the world that His people were living in through the voice of the prophet Isaiah to remind them that He was there, working towards something better. Jesus was coming. God had not abandoned His people.

Choosing to forget about God does not mean He forgets about us. Waiting for the fulfillment of His promises does not mean God has abandoned us. The Old Testament is full of examples of God reaching into our world to draw His people to Him, even as they were waiting for the promised Saviour to come.

And then, hundreds of years later, God reached into our world in a new way, entering it as a baby, to be that promised Saviour for His people. Since then, for two millennia, God is still reaching into our world through His Holy Spirit, speaking to us, drawing us to Himself, and answering prayers, until the fulfillment of His ultimate promise comes: Jesus will come again to restore Heaven and Earth. Advent is a time of waiting, but in that waiting, we are not abandoned. God has not forgotten us. He speaks hope to us, even now, even still.

Reflect and Discuss

Have you ever felt like God has forgotten about you and your circumstances?
Where have you seen glimpses of God reaching into your life recently? How can those moments give you hope that He is working the bigger things out?
What promises of God are you holding on to, still waiting to see them be fulfilled?

Pray
Lord, even as we wait, we want to see your face. Let us not feel abandoned and help us not forsake you. Bless us with hope for the fulfillment of your promises.
Amen.

Advent in Action
Acquire an Advent calendar to journey with through December. Use this common item to remind you about the hope we still have while waiting. As you open each little door to find something little and good for that day, remind yourself to look for God each day too, even as you wait for God to answer your bigger prayers.

More information about our Advent Prayer Challenge can be found here. Click here to subscribe to daily reminders.