Advent Three - Mary Letter Day Eleven

Advent Three - Mary Letter Day Eleven

The Collect

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen. 

Old Testament Isaiah 35:1-10 

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 

 Psalm 146:4-9 

4 Happy are they who have the

 God of Jacob for their help! * 

whose hope is in the LORD their God; 

5 Who made heaven and earth, 

the seas, and all that is in them; * 

who keeps his promise for ever; 

6 Who gives justice to 

those who are oppressed, * 

and food to those who hunger. 

7 The LORD sets the prisoners free; 

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; * 

the LORD lifts up 

those who are bowed down; 

8 The LORD loves the righteous; 

the LORD cares for the stranger; * 

he sustains the orphan and widow,

 but frustrates the way of the wicked. 

9 The LORD shall reign for ever, * 

your God, O Zion, throughout 

all generations! Hallelujah!

The Epistle James 5:7-10 

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 

The Gospel Matthew 11:2-11 

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Dear Auntie,

I am so glad to hear your good news! I am so excited that little John is now with us. So glad that you are well after delivering that little miracle and Uncle Zechariah regained his voice so soon. I do hope Jospeh and I can come for a visit before our little one arrives. Unfortunately, things have gotten more complicated here. 

Joseph recently heard from the occupying authorities that he would have to show up in person in his hometown to pay taxes and to register for the census. His family is all from Bethlehem and he was born there. That is quite a haul! He and Papa talked about sending Jospeh by himself, but the local magistrate said his spouse of fiancé should go as well. I am getting so big and not really excited about a long trip before the baby comes. Mama is sure we can get there and back long before the baby comes. The wedding will have to happen this week before we go.

Sometimes, Elizabeth, I have moments of discouragement and find tears rolling down my face. I know all of this is of God, and it seems that the world is working against us. Mama and Papa are very careful in town now as some feel they came say horrible things about us. Jospeh has been so patient and comforting. He reads me from the Psalms when I get discouraged and reminds me of all the songs we learned as children. We sit outside after dark and talk about our hopes and fears about when our baby arrives. We often get laughing about our shared worries. He reminds me that God is always with the faithful and those who call upon his name.

I hope you are healing well and enjoying every moment with that beautiful little boy!

Much love,

Mary