Luke 1:68-79
1:68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. [69) He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David,(70) as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,(71) that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, (73) the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us (74) that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, (75) in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (76) And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,(77) to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.(78) By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,(79) to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Mercy...I love that word. I think they need to add a Sunday to Advent so we can add a candle of mercy. Tomorrow’s candle is the Candle of Peace, but Mercy is different from peace and grace. Grace is forgiveness when we do not deserve it; peace is a a state of being without conflict, but mercy is the act of love and compassion upon those who are in pain.
In the time of Jesus, the promise of mercy meant a release from the painful occupation of the Roman empire. It meant the end of being the outcasts, the Jews, those set apart for scorn. It was a rescue.
Powerful are the words “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn on high will break upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Mercy gives way to peace. Mercy opens hearts and minds to the possibility of a different way of living. When we have relief from our pain through the mercy of God, we can see more clearly the pathways to peace.
Who are those sitting in darkness in the shadow of death? Who are those who are facing their enemies in fear of days to come? Is it the Isrealis in fear of bombing from Gaza? Is it the Palestinians who live in fear of Isrealis taking over the land that they have called home? There will be no peace in The Holy Land without mercy paving the way.
In our community, the common enemy seems to be cancer and disease. It seems like everyday our facebook pages and church prayer lists are full of requests for healing for loved ones. They too sit in the darkness of the shadow of death. It is in these moments of helplessness, when we don’t know what to do or even what to pray for, that our request must be for mercy that will give way to peace. God is wise and God is merciful.
Not every religion can claim this mercy of their God. We are blessed to serve a God who is merciful to the core. Let us not forget to give thanks in the midst of our suffering knowing that our merciful savior will intervene.
Prayer: “Almighty, infinite Father, faithfully loving Your own.Here in our weakness You find us, falling before Your throne. Oh, we're falling before Your throne.”
- Lyrics from Wonderful, Merciful, Savior by Dawn Rodgers and Eric Wyse
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