Isaiah 63.15-65.7, Luke 2.41-52 - Lectionary for 1/4/10

Today's readings are Isaiah 63.15-65.7 and Luke 2.41-52.

What are the fruits of sin?  In our sin we find that we cannot find God.  God has turned his face away from sinful man, who then, trying through sinful man's methods, cannot approach him.  It seems that part of the penalty for sin is that we end up sinning more.  The repentant cry out for the Lord to reveal himself.  Yet those who trust in their own ability go on with their shows of holiness, wisdom, and religiosity all in vain.  Our man-made holiness is in vain because it is tainted through and through with our sinful desires.  Our man-made wisdom is mediated by our sinful desires.  It is finite.  We cannot see or understand all that is around us so we are ultimately blind in our wisdom.  Our man-made religiosity is fruitless.  It does not approach the true and living God because it does not do so on his terms, but on ours.  We put ourselves on the throne that belongs to God so as to decide what would be right.  

What hope is there then?  We see the fruitless attempts we can make at approaching God.  But we also see in this passage that the Lord reveals himself suddenly, unexpectedly, in a way which confronts and contradicts all our efforts at religiosity.  Our Lord and Savior has come.  He has given us his Word which shows us how we approach him on his terms, not on ours.  He has revealed himself to us.  He is found by those who did not seek for him.  He is found where he is not expected.  He is the God who has revealed himself and made eternity visible.  And he has done it through the person and work of Jesus Christ, his only son.

Do we look for salvation through our own holiness and wisdom?  Or do do we look for salvation through this baby born in Bethlehem, living at least for a time with the livestock because of lack of space?  Do we look for salvation through the perfect man who gave himself for the sins of all mankind?  Do we look for hope in the bodily resurrection?  Do we see our Lord in water, bread, and wine?  In short, do we look for our Lord where he has promised he can be found?  Let us ever look there in hope.  The Lord has revealed himself in an unexpected way.  He is there to be found.