Christmas Day
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace
Isaiah 52:7
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace
pure poetry, Isaiah’s words
I wish I could read and translate the Hebrew
in which the prophet’s words are recorded
words that echo across centuries
Isaiah ben Amoz lived and spoke in the 8th c BCE
yet what we know as the Book of Isaiah, which has 66 chapters,
is really the work of more than one prophet
and spans two or three hundred years of history
So, these words handed down to us
spoken in our worship today
are 2500 years old or older
words that have traveled over the rough places and the plain
words that have been reverently spoken in worship
and lifted up by individuals
seeking comfort and consolation
words prayed in so many different languages
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
another translation--
how welcome on the mountain
are the footsteps of the herald
announcing happiness [The Jewish Study Bible, second edition]
it evokes images of those keeping watch at a look-out
keeping alert to warn of danger or attack approaching
and what they see
is one coming who is out in the open
a friend who brings good news in a time of war
one whose message is: it’s over
the bad times are over
Isaiah’s promise of restoration
is much needed solace for our time
God’s restoration comes again and again
and I would dare to say this morning--
this Christmas Day
when we give our all to the birth of Jesus
the prophesied messiah
our Savior
God coming into the world fully human
open to knowing suffering and pain and loss--
I would dare to say this morning
that God’s restoration is available to us even in the midst
of calamity and suffering
it is easy to hold God responsible--
although many would not claim to blame God for their troubles
it is kind of what we do when we say things like
“God doesn’t give you any more than you can handle”
it suggests that God spends every moment of every day
deciding what happens to each person
when we are honest with ourselves
we know much human suffering comes from human action
from human choices
and choices we make affect not only us but others
a more helpful understanding of God’s presence in our lives I think
would be knowing that when we encounter the evil and suffering of the world
God does not abandon us
even when it feels like that sometimes
God being fully human in Jesus
means that our grief and despair
as well as our joys and comfort
are something God knows
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
keep your eyes and your hearts open
for God’s restoration
be alert for messengers of good news
that you might otherwise overlook
Christmas has come
Christ has been born
The words of Isaiah
God’s word
the Word made flesh
lives among us
full of grace and truth
