The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom;  like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. (Isaiah 35:1-2)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

We wait. Most of us are not very adept at waiting. We are out of practice. We live in a world where we have information at our fingertips, fast food, and drive-thru windows. We’ve become accustomed to getting what we want when we want it. It seems that each day the world moves faster and every year, the Christmas displays go up earlier. Waiting with impatient irritation is fairly easy. Waiting with expectancy and joy…not so much.

Yet God calls us to do just that. He expected His people to do just that. It is a step beyond waiting patiently. God calls us to wait expectantly and joyfully. The promises He made through Isaiah point toward this great moment in time when even the wilderness and the desert will sing for joy. A moment is coming when the whole earth will ring out with praise in response witnessing God’s glory. Even that which appears lifeless will blossom.

Mary’s song in Luke is her response to the fulfillment of God’s promise coming closer and her joy at being chosen to participate in that moment. Unlike just about every Old Testament prophet and even her cousins Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary does not baulk at her calling. Although arguably, she probably had more reason to debate her calling than all the prophets put together. She, an unmarried girl in her early teens, was being called to bear and raise the Son of God. She responds with joy and singing…and then she waits…with expectant joy.

We too await with joy and expectancy. Christ has come. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. We wait with joy and expectancy to celebrate His birth and we continue to wait with joy and expectancy for His return. We light candles to mark the weeks and we raise our voices with all the earth, singing praises to the Lord Almighty! God is faithful to His promises. He has come to redeem His people. He has come to redeem you.

The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Carla

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, You have come to the aid of your servant Israel, to remember the promise of mercy, the promise made to our forbears, to Abraham and his children forever. (Luke 1:46b-47;54-55)