1. Advent 1: Come and Reveal Justice, O Lord
Isaiah 64:1-9, Mark 13:24-37

2. Liturgical Year or Christian Calendar

3. Isaiah 64:1-9 set in a Psalm of Lament (Isaiah 63:7-64:12)

4. Prayer of Jews who have returned from Exile (mid 6th Century)

5. 1. Come Down! "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down”…(Isaiah 64:1)

6. ”As when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil" (v2a)

7. "to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!" (v 2b)

8. “…who acts for those who wait for him.” (v4)

9. Motivation : "to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!" (v 2b)

10. St Augustine
“Our God will come openly; our God will come and will not keep silent.” The first coming of Christ the Lord, was in obscurity; the second will be in sight of the whole world. When he came in obscurity no one recognized him but his own servants; when he comes openly he will be known by both all. When he came in obscurity, it was to be judged; when he comes openly it will be to judge. He was silent at his trial, He will not be so when the world is tried.  -

11. 2. We Have Sinned (Isaiah 64: 5-7)

12. "Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?” 5b

13. We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. v6

14. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. V 6b

15. here is no one who calls upon your name,
    who rouses himself to take hold of you; v 7a

16. “…for you have hidden your face from us and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.” v7b

17. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

18. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10

19. “Wake up, my child. Wake up before death wakes you up.”

20. 3. Look at your People But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people. v8-9

21. Summary: Come down - Waiting Patiently We have sinned - Watching Diligently
Look at Your People - Wanting Mercy

22. Patience, hard thing by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)
Patience, hard thing! the hard thing but to pray, But bid for, patience is! Patience who asks, Wants war, wants wounds; weary his times, his tasks; To do without, take tosses, and obey.

23. Rare patience roots in these and, these away, Nowhere
Rare patience roots in these and, these away, Nowhere. Natural heart’s ivy, Patience masks Our ruins of wrecked past purpose. There she basks Purple eyes and seas of liquid leaves all day.

24. We hear our hearts grate on themselves: it kills To bruise them dearer
We hear our hearts grate on themselves: it kills To bruise them dearer. Yet the rebellious wills Of us we do bid God bend to him even so.

25. And where is he who more and more distils Delicious kindness
And where is he who more and more distils Delicious kindness?—He is patient. Patience fills His crisp combs, and that comes those ways we know.