What I’m Thinking: Promises

In Psalm 126, we hear how the people of Israel rejoiced when they were able to return to their own land from exile. In Luke 1, we hear Mary’s rejoicing at the news that many of God’s promises would be fulfilled in the child she carried. Promises fulfilled are sparks of joy.

Here’s a transcript:

I’m thinking that I’m looking forward to church this Sunday because I’ll be on the receiving end of the Good Word instead of the delivery side. This will be our Sunday School’s opportunity to present a Christmas pageant. 

So I’m really looking forward to their sharing of the hope, peace, joy, and love that comes to us through Jesus.

I am still, however, thinking (at least a little bit) about the lectionary readings for this coming Sunday. Psalm 126 is a song of thanksgiving that comes from the time when the people of Israel were able to return to their city of Jerusalem some seventy years after it had been destroyed by an invading army, and many of them carried off into exile. It’s a song that exults in the fulfillment of God’s promises.

And I’m also thinking about the first chapter of Luke (Luke 1:46-55), in which Mary sings a very similar song about the fulfillment of some of God’s promises, and about the way that she sees others of them to be fulfilled through the gift of this child now growing inside her.

Promises fulfilled. Promises made. Promises anticipated.

Ah, yes. This is why we call it Gaudete Sunday: the Sunday of Joy.

That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear about what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below; I’d love to hear from you.