December 10, 2017 Christmas Comfort

December 10   2017 “Christmas Comfort” *Isaiah 40.1-5, Psalm 85. 8-13 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

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The prophet Isaiah hears God’s command to comfort, not once but twice, comfort, Oh comfort, my people. Comforting is a human reflex, for those who are human. Have you ever had your doctor take a little hammer, hit you in the knee, testing your reflex. [slide # 1 hammer/knee]

If the doctor sees a knee-jerk reaction, an automatic response, the doctor is pleased because it means that the segments of the spinal cord - L2, L3, and L4 are functioning in a way that they should. If your leg does not go up when the hammer goes down or if the leg goes up more than once, or if the leg stays up, then the doctor will conclude there is a problem.

Comforting others is a human reflex. Every day we are apt to run into someone whom we can comfort, whom when we hear God’s emphatic voice, “Comfort, Oh Comfort” my people, we move. It is then that our reflexes are tested and we find the right nerve to ask God to help us respond in ways that bring relief, that help someone bear their burden as we share kindness, tenderness, laughter, and joy. Comfort is what makes us human and defines us as Christians.

When God calls us to comfort someone, we draw closer to them, close enough to see their brow wrinkled in pain, tears trickling down their cheeks, their hands clenched in fear, their eyes looking down at the floor, their chin low to the ground. When we are comforted, we are comforted by someone who is able to hear the sadness in our voice, the despair in our heart, the gasping in our lungs, the longing in our life, and God’s word crying out, ‘Comfort, oh comfort me…comfort her, comfort him, comfort my people…in their distress.’

Thankfully, comfort can be contagious like crying, [slide # 2 baby crying] or laughing [slide # 3 laughing lady] or yawning, [slide # 4 yawning baby] or a sports wave. [slide # 5 sports fans]

Isaiah hears God’s call to comfort the people. We all hear that call and we all answer. We saw that at Bethel last week as we showered the veterans with Christmas Carols, gifting them with 100 scarves with a patriotic emblem; they shared their grateful smiles and tears of joy that God had not forgotten them and that their service and sacrifice were honored and appreciated. [slide # 6 two veterans embracing]

We heard the call Wednesday to comfort when we shared a community meal with persons most of whom we had not met before, but who are clearly known by God, precious and beloved. [slide # 7 community meal]

Our kindness brings comfort. A couple from Central New York lost their home after Hurricane Irene in August of 2011. [slide # 8 destroyed house] They returned to what was left, slipping and sliding from room to room in the mud that was everywhere; their refrigerator had blown over and was blocking the door between the kitchen and the living room. An antique organ and sewing machine used for quilting were part of the rubble, bringing tears and feelings sadness.

The couple prayed to trust God. When the pastor assured the congregation “God is at work even now,”   [ Slide # 9 God is…]  they wanted to believe that but questioned - what exactly was God doing? A neighbor told them about a community café that was especially set up in a hall in a hall for this emergency situation. People would go there and bring food for those who had come to clear out some of the wreckage of their homes.

The community café served lunch daily for months and months. Countless people who heard God’s call to comfort came with an endless supply of food. All could see that the hand of God was working even in the midst of chaos and despair. The couple knew they were going to be ok. Kindness comforts.

Verse 2 tells us a particular way we should show comfort. [slide # 10 speak tenderly] “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry out to her that she has served her term that her penalty has been paid.”

Words comfort. You may have read the story in this week’s Daily Bread of a high school sophomore who worked in a bowling alley. The custodian called out sick and the young man mopped the muddy tile floors and did not tell the boss. He wanted his good deed to be a surprise.

The next day he showed up for work, he stepped into the door and saw several inches of standing water with bowling pins, rolls of toilet paper, and boxes of paper scoresheets bobbing on top. It turns out that when he mopped the floor, he left the faucet on and water was running all night long. He was amazed and no doubt relieved when his boss met him with a smile and a big hug. “That’s for trying!” he said.

Words comfort.

In verse 3 another voice cries. It specifically cries out in every wilderness – [slide # 11 cries in the wilderness] you know – the wilderness of disease, divorce, death, treason, betrayal, and aborted promises.  ³ A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, [slide # 12 prepare…]
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God…”

⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
⁵ Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all people shall see it together,

When our souls are languishing in the wilderness of disease, divorce, death, treason, betrayal, and aborted promises, we don’t think of preparing the way of the Lord. The first thing on our minds is not always straightening ourselves out – morally, emotionally, physically, psychologically with the help of the Lord. Much of the time, what we do in the wilderness is wander around in circles and listen to ourselves cry and complain and carry on. We may do so for many years. Sounds familiar.

If we want to comfort each other in the wilderness and if we want to receive God’s comfort, we must just do it. Like Nike says, “Just do it.” Make the time, make the sacrifice, make it happen. Comfort, oh comfort! That’s what I see when I see you all going from person to person on Sunday morning to see how someone is doing. That is what I see when I know someone has gone to a widow’s house to bring Thanksgiving dinner and a family is planning to spend Christmas Day making a wonderful meal and bringing it to a homeless shelter, sitting down with them and feasting together on the goodness of the Lord.

If we want to comfort and be comforted with the guidance of the God of ALL comfort, we are taught not only to comfort but to ALSO do something that is not always so comfortable – that is to prepare the way of the Lord no matter overwhelming it seems. Those of you who are preparing for families and guests coming at Christmas probably have an impossibly long list of washing, cleaning, baking, and shopping to do.

Our need to prepare, cries out to us as we journey through the deserted wilderness. [slide # 13 desert wilderness] The cries are unsettling reminders of our urgent need to get ready and get going to the place God has for us. It is not always comfortable because the journey is not about us. Our comfort alone, is not God’s highest priority. In this world, Jesus says we will have tribulations, but be or good cheer, for I have overcome the world.

When we come to God’s word and meditate and pray and come to worship and to bible studies and study groups, [slide # 14 bible study] the Spirit moves in us, through us, around us and we hear God’s voice in multiple ways. We hear where we need to prepare ourselves for more blessings that we need to receive and give, more wisdom to maneuver through the pitfalls or more emotional and spiritual fortitude to climb the mountains that we must climb to reach the promises of God.

In this season of Advent – we prepare because Jesus is NEAR. At Christmas – we will celebrate because Jesus will be HERE. [slide # 15 Advent candles]

May we find all the comfort we need to receive and to share and may we be prepared and ready for Christmas. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.  Amen. [slide # 16 Amen…]