Pastor’s Corner – December 15, 2022
In Exile: Pray to the Lord
Almost six hundred years before the time of Jesus, his people, the Israelites, were in crisis. Their capital, Jerusalem, and the surrounding region, Judea, were destroyed and occupied by the invading force of Babylon. Many had been injured, killed, or made homeless, and the rest forced into exile from their homeland. Could the people of God survive?
Into this crisis a prophet named Jeremiah spoke-up on behalf of God. Jeremiah offered words of encouragement to the exiles. With the movement away from faith and religious affiliation in our time, plus the mean-spirited efforts to demonize the other, along with our own personal challenges, we may be feeling like exiles too.
This series of articles seeks to offer you some encouragement by tapping into this ancient wisdom. So far we have heard the prophet’s call to trust God and seek the welfare of others.
In Jeremiah 29:7 we find four powerful words: pray to the Lord. In times of adversity there is no action more important than prayer. Daily communication with God and moment by moment mindfulness of the Divine presence provides the strength and wisdom that sees us through. A new commitment to pray and be mindful liberates us from being overwhelmed by the challenges we face. It is not all on our shoulders. When we are open to the Divine presence, we are open to a power that is much greater than our own. Now is the time to renew our commitment to life with God. Let us pray, worship, and serve together and see what God will do. Remember, the nativity of Jesus celebrates a helpless infant born to peasant parents, and yet grew to change the world!
Advent blessings and Christmas joys,
Marc
