Week One
November 30, 2022
Love Wins
Isaiah 54:1–10
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
In this scripture, the Holy’s love becomes steadfast, overcoming the stories of “divine wrath” that make up parts of the Hebrew bible and Hollywood movies with an ancient biblical focus.
This shift promises that prior shame, disgrace, and geopolitical disaster aren’t the final word. It is noteworthy that this part of Isaiah also has the Holy taking responsibility for abandoning the people, contributing to their deep loss. “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer” (v. 8).
For many who follow the way of Jesus, the hope of our Advent season is to prepare our welcome for the most compassionate one who comes to free and welcome all into the promise of steadfast love. Meditating on the words from Isaiah, I find myself drawn into a discipline of compassion this season, but compassion is hard.
Compassion requires an openness to the feelings of others and where they are. It requires an acknowledgment of my own actions and lifestyle that may contribute to suffering, fear, and anger in the world. Turning away is the easy thing to do. Turning toward and offering hope-building, steadfast-loving compassion is hard.
But with the assurance of the Holy’s steadfast love and covenant of peace, and the promised coming of the Holy into the world, true compassion is possible.
Kurt Gwartney
Senior Director of Communications and
Adjunct Faculty, Center for Ministry and Lay Training
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