Dr. May Persaud
Israel’s history is filled with crying out to God: in Egypt when enslaved by Pharaoh, in the wilderness when hungry, in the Promised Land when enemies attack. Whether guilty of straying or a victim of circumstances, Israel does not turn away from crying out to God. Why? Because God listens to Israel’s cries and rescues them by coming. Israel is a witness to God’s steadfast love and mighty acts.
This Lent, as we follow Jesus to the Cross, we think back to Advent, to the time of waiting for the birth of this one who is walking to Jerusalem. Charles Wesley’s Advent hymn still echoes in our minds. Let us listen again:
Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art,
Dear desire of ev’ry nation,
Joy of ev’ry longing heart.
Like Israel, Wesley cries: “Come.” It is a cry centered in Jesus.
Jesus! Born to set God’s people free, who breaks the stranglehold of fear and death; Israel’s strength, the earth’s hope, every nation’s desire, joy to all. In one verse Wesley spans time and space with stunning eloquence as we ponder who Jesus is! So, we circle back to Psalm 17, “Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior ….”
How wondrously, quietly, in John 1: 39, Jesus’ own words to the disciples (and to us!) invite new coming. Jesus says, “Come and see.”
Today we are invited to come and cry out to God in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We bring before the throne of God our secret yearnings, our frightened hearts, our strains, our joys, not only for ourselves but for others, for the entire world. We, too, are invited by the Holy Spirit to cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus.” We do so because Jesus has journeyed to the Cross for the sake of the world, that all might experience life, healing, and forgiveness. We do so because God hears our cries, even when we think God has not. Thus, we follow in Christ’s footsteps by the power of the Spirit, as we are sent out to proclaim God’s love in Christ Jesus to every heart and every nation.
Lord God, we cry out to you, bringing to you our secret fears and joys. You know our needs beyond our knowing. We ask that your will may be done in our lives, that we may serve you in every moment of our days. Forgive us our sins and help us to walk in a way that is pleasing unto you as you send us forth into the world. These things we ask, as we look, by the power of your Holy Spirit, to your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, as he walks to the Cross. Amen.