Second Thursday of Advent

Psalm 145:1-13; Isaiah 41:13-20; Matthew 11:7-15

It is good to humbly realize that we are all of us poor, needy and parched with thirst. Some of us are experiencing the reality of these in a very real physical way.  These are hard times for many of us. But even those who have an abundance of material blessings experience the ache of "Is this all there is?" It might take them longer to realize it because they are numb to the ache.  The ache can be masked for a very long time with things.  

From the outside in, my life looked perfect, but in the quiet of my heart I knew not all was as it should be.  

If we take a close enough look, we can see that things, people, or whatever we choose to chase the ache away does not do it completely. You see, we are created for a different kind of world and a different kind of life. We are created to have fellowship, a relationship with our creator and with each other. The world is not now as it should be.  As good as it can be, (and it can be really good at times) it is not as good as it was meant to be.

There is a scripture that God keeps bringing back to my heart again and again.

"My people are broken - shattered! And they put on band-aids, saying, "it's not so bad, you'll be just fine." But things are not just fine!

Jeremiah 6:24, the Message 

Christ is the life-giving water we so desperately need for the parched and dry deserts of our hearts and souls.

The kind of life we are made for.

Father open our eyes and our hearts to our poverty. Help us to stop filling the ache to ease the pain which prevents us from asking the question, "Is this all there is?" Help us to stop and look at what we do to mask the ache.  Help us to turn to you to receive the thirst quenching water that only you can give.

Amen