On the eve of the Epiphany of our Lord we come to a point in the winter when many people are tired. Perhaps, as we wander through the darkness of winter, we wonder if there is anything new coming.
The reading from Isaiah tells the story of a people coming back from exile to new beginnings, from darkness and pain to light and rejoicing. Their faithfulness to God had not wavered and now they are gathering again in Jerusalem.
We live lives that see us go from darkness to light, from pain to rejoicing, and sometimes from light to darkness, from rejoicing to pain and then back again. The ebb and flow of life is sometimes unbearably hard, sometimes unbelievably joyful. But no matter what we go through in life, God’s faithfulness to us is there.
Sometimes though, God’s faithfulness to us is hard to see. That’s when we need others to help us find the courage to lift up our eyes and look around. And when we do that, we see a new beginning. A new advent.
Lord God, when I am in the midst of pain, help me see new beginnings. When I am in the midst of rejoicing, help me help others to see it as well, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — JKU