Still Waiting?--Dec. 30, 2010

We waited for you a long time, Jesus.
Maybe we are still waiting—at times,
you know, you seem to hide yourself.

Yet you are the one for whom we have waited,
the one for whom we are waiting still. You are
the one who saved us from condemnation.

You are the first and the last, dead but now alive
forever and ever, the living one in whom we live.
Let us be glad—O let us rejoice in your salvation.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 93, 147:12-20, 89:1-18, 89:19-52
Isa. 25:1-9
Rev. 1:9-20
John 7:53-8:11

Selected Verses
Ps. 89:46a
How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?

Isa. 25:9
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.

Rev. 1:17-18
When I saw him [one like the Son of Man], I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. …”

John 8:10-11
Jesus straightened up and said to [the woman caught in adultery], “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”