Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge Meditation
Luke 1:67-79
| SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 , 2012 | |
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On the threshold of Christmas we join in Zechariah’s hymn of praise: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people.” God’s visiting is not a casual dropping by. It is formal and awesome. As a ruler He arrives with power and might. It is a powerful coming, effective against the strongest of enemies and inspiring of holy fear.
Similarly, the gentle sounding “tender mercy” is the gut-wrenching, womb-bending compassion God has for those who sit in darkness. It is the spasm of mercy Jesus feels for the widow weeping with the body of her dead son, the pity the Samaritan takes for the wounded traveler, and the heaving insides of the father greeting his runaway son. This tender mercy reconciles people who have hurt each other, makes enemies reach out to offer help, and ultimately brings the dead to life. At the brink of Christmas, when dawn is about to break open and pour light out upon us, may we know that God’s ferocious compassion for us goes on and on with energy and life giving power. Holy and Loving God, we thank you and praise you for the gift of our Savior. Make us aware of the power of your compassion and enkindle in us tender mercy for all those whom you love. Amen.
The Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, ThD
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