December 19

Every pilgrim knows that at some point on the journey (many points, actually), you will need help.  As well as you may have prepared and packed, you may even need saving from whatever obstacle, struggle or detour becomes more than you can navigate.  This Advent’s journey is no different.  Perhaps in new ways this year, many of us are preparing with urgency for what might lie ahead, knowing the kinds of deadly response empire has to the power of love being made flesh in its midst.  And maybe we are also having moments this Advent where we find ourselves sitting on the side of the road, hoping that someone might come by with a map, a shoulder, a vision of how to make a way out of no way.

These words from the prophet Isaiah lead us to another question.  In those moments of struggle, need, and desperation that accompany any journey and particularly this Advent journey, what has become your salvation?  The racism of our society has taught some of us that superiority or respectability will be our salvation.  Capitalism teaches us that our labor will be our salvation.  Nationalism teaches us that military might and surveillance will be our salvation.  But harm reduction reveals the truth to us: each of these sources of saving help actually make many, if not most, of us more vulnerable and limits our capacity to deal with harm, especially if we do not have access to the power that comes from privilege, protection and resources.

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation,” the prophet says, painting of picture of abundance and delight.  Isaiah seems to be saying – true salvation is all around us, waiting for us to tap into it, to draw on it, to turn joyfully toward it and drink.  Maybe Isaiah is trying to remind us that the stories of empire will not save us.  But, our work toward collective liberation, our care and connection to each other, our unabashed affirmation of dignity and worth, our commitments to mutual flourishing will make salvation overflow in our midst.

So, as you make your way through this Advent journey, ask yourself and each other: what will become your salvation?

Prayer

In these troubling days, Redeeming God,
we are searching for what will save us.
Show us how to prepare for the salvation that comes,
not with dominance and violence,
but instead born in a manger. 
Until Love-in-vulnerable-flesh becomes our salvation, we pray.  Amen.

Freedom Song

Music: “Bury Me” by Tracy Howe
Offered by: Tracy Howe