12/25/2015 Friday
Isaiah 6:1-8
An
Unexpected Messenger
Prophets come to afflict the comforted
and comfort the afflicted. Here the prophet Isaiah has a vision. He is brought
into the presence of the Lord. He sees God’s glory and majesty and immediately
states that he is not worthy. Angels come to him and purify his mouth with a
hot coal. Now Isaiah’s sin has been washed away. He is purified and set apart
to hold God’s words in his mouth.
Let us keep Isaiah in mind as we
contemplate the birth of Jesus on this Christmas Day.
It was a census by the Romans that
brought pregnant Mary and her spouse Joseph to Bethlehem, which means the House
of Bread. Their son Jesus, our Lord and Savior is to be born there. Mary is the
ark of the new covenant, which brings the physical presence of God into the
world. You would think that the King of Kings would be born in a wonderful
setting but this is not so. Jesus is born in conditions of poverty, humility
and even rejection. Since there was no room for them in the inn, Mary gave
birth to Jesus in a cave where animals are kept. She laid him in a trough for a
bed where animals are fed. Right from the beginning we are shown how one day
Jesus will become food for us. It is in this way that Mary goes to the House of
Bread to deliver the bread. The bread of life is born to us.
This has been said about receiving
communion: “Let us draw near to him with burning desire and let us take hold of
the divine coal, the Eucharist, so that the fire of that coal may purge away
our sins and enlighten our hearts. Let us be enkindled by touching the great
divine fire.”
Communion purifies us. Like the prophet
Isaiah, we have been brought into the presence of the Lord. We have been
purified and sent on a mission. At the end of service each week, we are told to
go out and announce the Gospel of the Lord in our words and actions.
Dear Sweet and
Gentle Jesus,
We love you, praise you, adore and
glorify you. Isaiah courageously and faithfully took up his call to do your
will, now we must do the same. Jesus, you were born among the lowly of this
earth to announce your saving purpose, to seek out, find and bring home God’s
little ones! Grant us the grace to welcome the Good News of your Gospel and to
become people of true peace and goodwill for our brothers and sisters. Amen
Jean Schuff
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