In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace.
Gospel of Luke
We are all familiar with the story of Job from the Old Testament. Job was a very successful man in every way. But he lost everything; his property, his family including his children, and finally, even his health. Job is a story about a man who had a complaint against God for taking away everything he had of value. He did not see this as fair because he was a just man, undeserving of such losses.
The story concludes when Job is humbled by God's reply to him: "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements -- surely you know? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together, and all heavenly beings shouted for joy?"
The story concludes with Job coming to a new understanding of his relationship with God; humbling but filled with awe and reverence. "I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know." The story concludes with Job's prosperity being restored.
From the book of Samuel, we find King David in somewhat of a similar but opposite situation. David is sitting on the throne of success. He has defeated his enemies, he lives in riches, surrounded by family and friends and untold wealth; and in his grandeur, he wants to return something to God. "I am living in a house of cedar while the Ark of God dwells in a tent", he says.
As with Job, David has to be reminded that it is not his plans that determine a place for God, but it is God's plans that determine a place for him. And God's plans reach far beyond David's puny moments of success. It reaches far beyond his knowledge and understanding. It is a plan that includes countless future generations of peoples and nations.
In the Gospel of Luke, we hear the beautiful canticle of Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist. "In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace." We begin to gain some insight into the plan that Nathan the prophet revealed to King David many centuries previous.
Like Job and King David, do we still not live our advents with the view of fitting God into our plans for Him, instead of understanding that advent is really about the fulfillment of God's plan for us?
God appears to us only as we put ourselves in right relationship with Him. Job came to that understanding when he admitted: "I have uttered what I do not understand; things too wonderful which I did not know". King David understood this when he heard God's voice speak to him through the Prophet: "Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep"?
Do we not understand that God's plan for us this Advent can be found in the sign of a child, a successor of David, one called Emmanuel - God is With Us -- born in a stable because there was no room for Him in the inn. This advent, are we busy fitting God into our plans? Do we still live in a world that does not have time for God's unfolding mystery and plan for us: to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace?
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