It will be a couple weeks before this familiar passage from Isaiah is refreshed for our conscious attention, but it has been powerfully on my mind this week. Why? Maybe because many of the churches in our tradition and others close to it observe “Christ the King” Sunday this week. Sensitive to the possible mis-use of some political metaphors, our host congregation CCJP and many UCC churches will call it “Just Rule” Sunday.

I don’t know about you, but the longing in my heart may never have been more fierce for wise “wonderful” presence of counsel and fairness and an experience of communal peace. A friend once wrote an Advent devotional calling attention to this clear Biblical pattern–for the centuries, our ancestors were waiting and working for reestablished peace. Their focus? Praying for the right leader with the right anointing to “deliver” them.

Those of us on Christ’s path sense He did not embrace the assignment they thought they were needing of him for deliverance. Nevertheless, he embodied an answer to their prayer and opened up new dimensions of understanding and courage as he gave himself to them. Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.

On the brink of Advent, these things invite me to appreciation for our common human longing for relief, justice, dignity, a new start. May these gifts of Christ’s be a part of proclamation and practice this season!

In Christ’s Peace,
Pastor Jacki

P.S. Prayer request: We’d appreciate your prayers as we travel to see family this week in ND. We’ll be back in time to hear Sarah Foster’s first sermon among us:). Contact Deacon Larry at 224-203-1324 to reach the pastor on call for emergencies.