LBW 29, “Comfort, Comfort Now My People,” v. 1
Devotion
“Comfort, comfort now my people; Tell of peace!” So says our God.
Comfort those who sit in darkness mourning under sorrow’s load.
To God’s people now proclaim that God’s pardon waits for them!
Tell them that their war is over; God will reign in peace forever!
One of the clinical questions which is asked in an assessment to discover if depression is a concern is: “Do you feel guilty or unworthy?” Even secular psychology recognizes that unresolved guilt affects our body, soul and spirit in negative ways. God proclaims to us, the children of God, in Advent: God’s pardon waits for us. The coming of Jesus speaks into the darkness of our guilt; forgiveness and relief of guilt are WAITING for us. For many, this is the light that needs to be proclaimed at Advent so that darkness of body, soul and spirit can be overcome.
Prayer
For ourselves and for others may we proclaim the excellent and necessary word of God: Pardon is not distant, it is right there waiting for us. Amen.