COME DOWN, LORD, AND LET YOU FACE SHINE ON US

I SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Isaiah 63:16-17,64:1,3-8

We start Advent with a reading from Isaiah in which he speaks of our sinfulness, because we behave like rebels, ignoring the Lord and breaking our covenant with him:

“You were angry when we were sinners;

we had long been rebels against you.

We were all like men unclean,

all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing.

We have all withered like leaves

and our sins blew us away like the wind.

No one invoked your name

or roused himself to catch hold of you.

For you hid your face from us

and gave us up to the power of our sins.” (Is 64:5-7)

Recognising our sins, we put our trust in the Lord because he is our Father and our Redeemer. We are like the clay in his hands and he is the potter, who is able to shape our lives and lead us to salvation. That’s why we are bold enough to plead with him and to put our lives in his hands. And we call on him to come down and to be with us:

“Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down!” (Is 64:1)

It is with trust and confidence that we begin the Advent season, preparing ourselves to welcome Him because He is coming. Indeed, the Lord is coming and we pray:

“let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.” (Ps 80:3)

This trust and confidence in God’s care and love lead us to an attitude of thanksgiving. We give thanks to the Lord because “he will keep you (us) steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”. (1 Co 1:9) God is faithful and he has called us into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Since the Lord is coming, we must be ready to welcome him. And the Gospels calls on us to be awoken and to remain always on the alert. We must keep watch while waiting for the Lord. We must keep watch over ourselves and over what happens around us, so that we may notice the signs of his coming.

“And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!” (Mc 13:37).