Advent Calendar Day 3

Dear Family,

Today I want to consider the first verse of “O, Come, O Come, Immanuel.” It is based on an 8th century Latin hymn. There are a number of different translations, but the one most familiar to us is by John Mason Neale (1818 – 1866), which has had a few alterations by various editors over the years. The verse expresses Israel’s deep longing for deliverance:

O come! O come! Emmanuel!

And ransom captive Israel;

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

The Psalmists affirmed “God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me” (Ps 49:15); “for great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” (Ps 86:13); “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption” (Ps 16:10). Ransom and deliverance. God would not abandon them. This the people knew, but they also knew that their sins were a major obstacle, and that many of their trials (especially being conquered by foreign nations), were God’s judgment on them for their disobedience. They were desperately waiting for their redemption.

In his song at John the Baptist’s birth (the Benedictus, Luke 1:68-79), Zechariah’s very first words of rejoicing were “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people (v 68). Zechariah affirmed redemption was at hand. It was something God had “promised from of old” through the prophets (v 70). Israel would be saved from their enemies and “all who hate us” (v 71) because they would receive salvation by the “forgiveness of their sins” (v 77).

The lectionary took us this morning to Paul’s defense before the governor, Felix, at Caesarea (Maritima). Paul too, was very clear that he was fully adhering to the Law and the Prophets: “… I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets …” (Ac 24:14). On the road to Emmaus, Jesus spoke to his two companions, “and beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk 24:27). Israel’s hope for deliverance was well founded in the Scriptures. They knew very well that their mourning and exile would one day be removed by God, through the arrival of the promised “son of David.” What we soon discovered was that this was not just for Israel, it was for all who came to Christ (Eph 2:14-15).

I confess that 2020 has been a year in which I have had my longing for deliverance stirred in new ways. It has been a difficult year. During the Last Supper, Jesus promised that he was going to prepare a place for us and that he would come back to fetch us (Jn 14:1-3). It is a beautiful place of peace: “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:16–17). We know that the ransom has been paid. Now we await the full coming of the Kingdom of God when he returns. This is a perfect time to celebrate the forgiveness of our sins and contemplate the wonder of the glory when Jesus returns.

In His grace,

Fr. Geoff