Surrounding the United States Capitol Building, in an area designated as the Federal City, there are numerous monuments to America's great leaders. To those who take note of these works of great artists, there is a reminder of fierce loyalty and dedication to a vision. During these winter days these truly are cold creations that speak of the flesh and blood, vision and power that are the gift of these men and women to a nation and its people, to you and me.Today Isaiah's reading offers us an image of salvation -- not carved or built, but in the written word, describes our God. The prophet paints a picture of a powerful God who "does not faint or grow weary." He is "the creator of the ends of the earth." Our powerful leader, our God, is always with us. He is a leader to whom we can turn when we are weary, when we feel that the power of evil is more than we can bear.
Isaiah assures us that God has given us many signs of his desire always to walk with him if we but invite his presence in our lives. For many who live and work in this Federal City it is a time of exciting anticipation. For others it is a painful time of uprooting. For others beyond this city as well it is a time of great struggle. Many are living through experiences of great loss: loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of hope. The prophet's words today are a reminder that we cannot lose hope. Hope is the venue of Advent. It is a time of our waiting. In Matthew's gospel we are reminded by Jesus that he always stands ready to be our place of rest and support. He, like a good leader, wants to take on our "labor and burden" that might be overwhelming. Our God is a loving God. God is our strength. Surely we can pray: "Show your face to us, God, and we will be saved.
