It has begun. The first Sunday of Advent began Sunday December 3rd. The twenty four hour period came and went. It was a beautiful day. I got to spend it with a special little guy, Ezekiel Matthew Jones. He is nineteen months old and he lives in Pittsburgh. I don’t get to spend a lot of time with him so when I do I like to make quality time. I’m in Pittsburgh for the next week or so. We are all waiting on not only the arrival of Christmas, but we are also awaiting the arrival of another notable person. We are waiting on Zeke’s brother to be born, Jax Leon Jones.
Waiting, I think I missed the line on patience. I try not to annoy my daughter-in-law by constantly asking how she feels. I try not to stare at her 24/7 wondering if that was labor pains or not. I came early to Pittsburgh because my son, Jax’s daddy, was in Cinncinati for two days because of his work, while his wife was in Pittsburgh 39 and 1/2 weeks pregnant. It was my watch and I wasn’t brushed up on my Lamaze so we took it easy, Zeke, Whitney, and I. Landry’s home now and Whitney can take as many and as long a walks her little heart desires. Jax can make his appearance any time now. It is end of watch for me. We will wait for Jax’s birthday.
Waiting is one of the hardest things to do. At various times of our lives we all wait. We wait for a table at a Restaraunt We wait on God to answer prayer. Two thousand and seventeen years ago all of Israel was waiting. They were waiting for their Messiah to show up.
”And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him.” Luke 2:25 KJV.
Sunday we were to light a purple candle in our advent wreath. Purple symblizes prayer. The first purple candle lit is called the Prophecy Candle or the Candle of Hope. Simeon’s hope was fulfilled that day in the temple when he first met Jesus as an infant.
Hope is a funny thing. It is a feeling of expectation and a desire for a certain event to happen. Simeon was certain God would fulfill His promise spoken by Isaiah the prophet.
Luke 2:25 gives Jesus the name of Consolation of Israel. Consolation in Greek is the name Parklesis. It describes someone who walks side by side with you encouraging you to keep going. It is the way the Lord directly motivates and inspires believers to carry out His plan. That is what Jesus came to do. He came to walk side by side with us showing us the way to live and to love and to find our way back to God.
Jesus showed up in the Israel’s waiting. Jesus shows up in our waiting.
What are you waiting and hoping for during this Christmas season?