![\"Restore_Us\"](\"http:\/\/www.emmanuelmennonite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Restore_Us-300x225.jpg\")
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This morning I am working on setting the Entrance antiphon and verses for the third week of Advent.\u00a0 Traditionally, that third Sunday is known as “Gaudete” Sunday and features pink vestments and candle in the Advent wreath.\u00a0 Gaudete is the Latin word for “Rejoice,” and the antiphon of the day is Philippians 4: 4-5<\/p>\n
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.
\nIndeed the Lord is near.”<\/p>\n
I think that is a well known and beloved scripture line, but I love the wisdom of the ages that pared it with these verses from Psalm 84:<\/p>\n
You once favored, LORD, your land, You withdrew all your wrath, Will you be angry with us forever, Show us, LORD, your mercy; Glory to the Father and to the Son What struck me about the psalm was God’s amazing mercy and love in the psalm.\u00a0 Along with forgiving guilt and pardoning sins,\u00a0 it uses the words “restore” three different times!\u00a0 God is always there, always constant, and will restore us.\u00a0 \u00a0Maybe not in the exact way we were before, and maybe not like Dorothy tapping her ruby slippers together and saying “There is no place like home.”<\/p>\n Anyone who has restored an old piece of furniture, or a house, or a painting knows how much work goes into the process.\u00a0 Some of it may be overall gutting the place, and big rough steps, as well as mundane things that are just part of it, and fine details.<\/p>\n Perhaps God will restore us, but we need to make difficult amends, or major changes in our lifestyle.\u00a0 Perhaps we need to ask for help, or acknowledge failings.\u00a0 We need to trust and believe that God can do these things, but then we need to do whatever we can to help accomplish them.<\/p>\n It is not time to sit back on our hands and wait for the magic to happen.<\/p>\n As the psalm says, “Show us your mercy, and grant us your salvation.”\u00a0 \u00a0Teach us O Lord the way we should act.<\/p>\n
\nrestored<\/strong> the captives of Jacob.
\nYou forgave the guilt of your people,
\npardoned all their sins.<\/p>\n
\nturned back from your burning anger.
\nRestore us<\/strong>, God of our salvation;
\nlet go of your displeasure with us<\/p>\n
\nprolong your anger for all generations?
\nCertainly you will again restore<\/strong> our life,
\nthat your people may rejoice in you.<\/p>\n
\ngrant us your salvation.<\/p>\n
\nand to the Holy Spirit
\nAs it was in the beginning,
\nis now and will be forever, Amen.<\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>