Such a timeless cry. We could hear it as God calling US to comfort. Or, us calling upon God to comfort our people. Us.

No shallow comforts will do. We need the deep and wise healing of our lives, our nation, our pandemics-stressed social fabric. I’ve been practicing saying pandemics in the plural because there are just so many things that seem raging out of control and contagious. We need remedies of the source of our ills, not simply the medicating of the symptoms that reveal we are not well. We need empowering of responsible and wise choices, not simply the tempting turn to tribalism and social pressures.

What a holy mess.

In this season, we turn to the symbols we need for hope, love, peace and joy – not because we’ve already arrived but because we share the common yearnings for them. We turn to our holistic and balanced faith, for it is a gift and compass to heart, soul, strength and mind. We turn to art, music, special recipes, decorations simple or lavish because we are designed a sensory people.

May we turn inwardly to the tender, loving, fair, healing and redeeming presence of Jesus Christ in these days. May His mercy refresh us. May we be comforted to remember the Spirit sometimes needs to distress us to get our attention, but only does so for our good.

Emmanuel, God with us!

In Christ’s Peace,
Pastor Jacki