Knowing God - Isaiah 53:5

(fp)

He was wounded for our transgressions,

crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

and by his bruises we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

 

"[Isaiah] was more of an Evangelist than a Prophet," said St. Jerome, "because he described all of the Mysteries of the Church of Christ so vividly that you would assume he was not prophesying about the future, but rather was composing a history of past events."

 

That was Isaiah. For example, seven hundred years before the angel appeared to Joseph, he proclaimed, "7:14 Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Prophesy? Or history?! Was he quoting the angel? Or was the angel quoting him?! Or were both quoting the living God?!!

 

In this week of Prophets and Hope, I invite you to encounter the living God. Isaiah -- chapter 6 -- fell down when he encountered the living Lord, who was "sitting high and lofty upon the throne." Part of the advent adventure is searching for God ... and trembling because he is almighty. 

 

Part of the advent adventure is finding our Awesome Lord laying humbly in a manger. 

 

In Christ's Love,

A guy who feels like a brainless scarecrow.

I tremble at the awesomeness as I approach the mighty Oz.

But when I pull back the curtain of swaddling clothes,

I encounter one whom I can approach after all

------------------------------
The choice: take part in the adventure or pull the covers over my head and have 'better sleep through chemistry.'  Why doesn't God seem approachable so often?