Restored

Scripture and Liturgy have us repeat phrases for emphasis sometimes. Consider the following:

Restore us, O God of hosts;
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

I am repeating here to recall how this couplet serves as a refrain at the end of each section in Psalm 80. These are verses three, seven, and eighteen in the psalm. We get the picture that the divine presence, God’s lighted face, emanating glory, restores and saves us.

Joseph gets it; it happened to him. We learn from the first chapter of Matthew; Joseph is taken from confusion to consolation by the appearance of the angel of the Lord. He hears from the heavenly messenger, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” This is the word that comes many times in the long story of salvation from angels to the people of God: “Fear not…Have no fear…Be not afraid. However confusing a predicament is for the human being, this message is an invitation to trust One who knows, One who alone is Worthy, and One who restores and saves. Joseph hears, “…the child conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)

Joseph cares for this maiden of Nazareth deeply enough that, even before the visit from the angel, he is willing to dismiss her quietly and let her move on without further humiliation He does not want to embarrass or jeopardize her when he learns that she is with child. He has felt perhaps confusion, irritation, and anxiety. Then, however, he hears from God through the angel, and He is led to move ahead, trusting God for the striking, ordained outcome. He is ready to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus, a name that means “God saves” or “God heals”.

Just as Joseph is taken from confusing fear and irritation to a restored state of trust and confidence, so God means to restore all of humanity from brokenness to wholeness. God is healing and restoring you. Think for a moment: What is eating at you? What have you undone? That is not a permanent state. Over and over, you are healed. At length, you will be permanently and incorruptibly restored. Then, you will tell your deepest self to sing in praise as hymns and psalms have taught you to do through life:

Praise my soul, the King of heaven; to his feet thy tribute bring;
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore his praises sing:
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise the everlasting King.

The Rev. David PriceDecember 13, 2022