Prayerful Waiting

Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, “Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
Joel 2:15–17
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Prayerful Waiting
Advent is a time of prayerful waiting. It is a penitential season as the Lord sets before his people his holy Word and Sacraments. Advent is a time of prayer and intercession. Blow the trumpet in Zion. Gather the people together around the Word. Let them confess their sins and receive the forgiveness of the cross. The Kingdom of God is near and the great day of the Lord is coming. Gather the people together and declare again in their hearing that the Lord comes to meet them. Where is the Lord of hosts? Where is the God of our salvation? He is at hand to save and make new. He dwells forever with his people. The world will question and scoff, but we know where the living God dwells. He dwells where he has promised to be: in Word and Sacrament among us. He spares you and me because he is gracious and merciful. He spares you and me for the sake of Jesus’ work on the cross. As we wait for the Lord’s return, we anticipate the celebration of his incarnation among us on Christmas. Thanks be to God for his visitation.