Apologies to the Adult Sunday School Class

Mary Anne McDonald

          For the last two weeks of Advent, I knew the Adult class wouldn't have enough time to follow the regular curriculum, so I decided to give the class a creative assignment - at least that's how it seemed in the beginning.

          The assignment called for the class members to choose their favorite verso from the book of Isaiah and write a little summary of why it is their favorite verse. (There was an accusation made that I was just trying to get the class to read the entire book of Isaiah, but that wasn't my intent. Really!)

          When I sat down to do the assignment myself, I discovered I hadn't given enough thought to the scope of the assignment. If found it almost impossible to choose only one verse. Looking through the book of Isaiah, I discovered that different parts of Isaiah have a message for me at various times in my life.

          Much of the time, the 31st verse of the 40th chapter rings true enough:

"…but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

          In Advent, there are verses which reflect the coming glory of Christ. Among these are:

"The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on tem light has shine." (9:2)

and

"For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throe of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore." (9:6-7)

          In dark or sad times, 43:1-2 serves as a reminder that I am not alone in the midst of my troubles:

"But now, thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through th erivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

          But, after all this reading and reflection, I think that, at least currently, my favorite verses in the book of Isaiah are 25:6-10:

"On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all people a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the LORD god will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain."

          These verses speak of the hope in the age-to-come when all peoples, not just believers, will receive all manner of good things. Good food and drink in plenty will be poured out upon the peoples. All sorrow and death will be destroyed. Comfort and peace will be with all those who are grieving and sorrowful. There will be much joy and the peoples will praise god with heartfelt cries of gladness. And, most importantly, God will be with us - -God's Hand resting on us to bring us peace and contentment."

Amen. Alleluia.

Mary Anne MacDonald
Adult Sunday School Teacher