Readings: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 1:12-17, 21-26
This isn’t going to SEEM very advent-y (yup…it’s a word)…but it is. It really is. I promise.
Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does such miracles (Psalm 72:18)
I’m not going to lie, I still have days when our election results, make my stomach roil. I’m so disappointed. I’m not over it. When people say that it’s time to “unify around the new president” and “give him a chance,’ my only answer is “nope.” I can’t bring myself to rally around his hatefulness.
Then my friend said “I’ve been praying for him.” As I crossed my arms, lowered my chin, and gave her the side eye, I said “Oh really. How does that feel?”
“Awful,” she said laughing. “It’s horrible to pray for him. I hate it. But I tell God that too while I’m at it.”
My response was to just nod and move on. I was terribly afraid I’d feel convicted to pray for him.
I don’t.
“Nope”
What I do feel is the hope of Advent. I feel the anticipation of “O Holy Night”. I feel the eagerness to feel the Spirit of Jesus in my life. I feel the rebellion of “Thy Kingdom Come” and it’s call to the incarnation of the Christ consciousness in our world.
So while I’m not a good enough person today to manage a prayer for the man (that would be a miracle…see first quote), the advent reading says it more beautifully than I ever could:
God, give the king your good judgment
and the king’s son (and in this case, daughter) your goodness.
Help him judge your people fairly
and decide what is right for the poor.
Let there be peace on the mountains
and goodness on the hills for the people.
Help him be fair to the poor
and save the needy
and punish those who hurt them.
May they respect you as long as the sun shines
and as long as the moon glows.
Let him be like rain on the grass,
like showers that water the earth.
Let goodness by plentiful while he lives.
Let peace continue as long as there is a moon. (Psalm 72:1-7)
