Prayer

God of timeless grace,
you fill us with joyful expectation.
Make us ready for the message that prepares the way,
that with uprightness of heart and holy joy
we may eagerly await the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture

Psalm 146:5-10

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
⁶ who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
⁷     who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
⁸     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
⁹ The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

¹⁰ The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Meditation

In the in between, the now and not yet, it is good to be reminded that The Lord does.  He is active and not passive.  He is pursuing and not receding.  He is creator and not destroyer.  He is faithful and not fickle.  He is protector and not one who abandon.  He is comfort and not disdain.  He is counsel and not contempt.  He is Lord.  Praise His Holy Name.