Advent Reflection | Sunday, December 20

Each Sunday we share, in place of our story, a portion of the 40th chapter of Isaiah. The people of Israel knew something about collective weariness. In this chapter Isaiah speaks to them tenderly, hopefully, and expectantly. There are some prompts to help you read this text using Lexio Divina—or holy reading. 

Consider encountering the scripture prayerfully using “Lexio Divina” or Holy Reading.  

• Read – Read the text through once and see what word or phrase shimmers for you a bit. You do not need to know why, just sit for a bit with the word or phrase that captured you. 
• Meditate – Read the text through again and see what echoes. What word or phrase seems to draw you in or echo in your mind or heart? It may or may not be the same as before. You do not need to know why, just sit for a bit with this word or phrase.   
• Respond – Read the text through a third time and respond – out loud, in a journal, or in your heart. You may have a question, a gratitude, a complaint, a praise. Respond to God with all of it. 
• Contemplate – Read the text through a fourth time and then sit quietly. Simply rest with the text and with the Spirit so that it may take up space in you and root itself in you. You may find it unfolds in the day ahead. 

Isaiah 40: 25 – 31 

25 To whom then will you compare me,
    or who is my equal? says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
    Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
    calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
    mighty in power,
    not one is missing. 

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
    and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
    and my right is disregarded by my God”?

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives power to the faint,
    and strengthens the powerless.

30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;

31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint.