Read Isaiah 2:1-5.
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord…that God may teach us God’s ways, and that we may walk in God’s paths.
And so it begins. Advent. Prepare, wait, repeat. Go there. Go to God’s mountain. God awaits us. But go slowly, and with great intention, because each time we ascend this mountain, there is something new for us to learn about God, ourselves, and the journey. Maybe the instruction doesn’t take place on the mountaintop, but rather on the rocky, tenuous, beautiful path we take to get there. And maybe we don’t have to get ourselves to the trailhead to get started, but we can start right here, right where we are. God is here, as are companions for the journey.
So let’s get started. Transformation lies ahead. Swords into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks, anger into action, sorrow into joy, judgment into curiosity, fear into courage. The prophet Isaiah encourages us to trust in God’s faithful presence and also to do the work that is ours for the transformation of ourselves, our communities, and the world. The path is lit by God, but it must be traveled by us, in community, to glean the lessons of this particular moment, to remember once again where we’re from and where we’re going.
And so it begins. Advent. Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Transformation lies ahead.
Pray
God of the waiting and the walking, open our hearts and minds to the transformation that we need, to be the people you’ve called us to be. This Advent, may we find you and ourselves on the path once again. Amen.
Missouri State University
Editor’s Note: Check out our Sunday Companion Guide for some more context on this Scripture reading, discussion questions prompted by the reflection, and Advent candle lighting liturgies inspired by this year’s Where We’re From theme.
Words for Waiting 