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No cask can hold two different kinds of drink. If it is to contain wine, then they must of necessity pour the water out; the cask must become empty and free. Therefore, if you are to receive God’s joy and God, you are obliged to pour out created things.
Miester Eckhart
Empty yourself, so that you may be filled. Learn not to love, so that you may learn how to love; draw back, so that you may be approached.
St. Augustine
I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
Hosea 2:14
What images come to mind for you when you think of wilderness? Maybe you think about all the comforts of home that might not be available in the wilderness. Certainly, if you were in the wilderness, you would be without some of the everyday conveniences of today’s world. While being without some of the items that make life a little easier might prove challenging, the wilderness might also serve to put distance between you and the less positive aspects of modern living.
When Hosea spoke the word of the Lord to Israel, I imagine that removing some of the distraction of worldly living was exactly what the Lord had in mind. According to Hosea’s prophecy, the people of God had broken their relationship with God in at least two ways. They had been unfaithful and ungrateful.
They were unfaithful to God by going after other lovers — lovers who gave them food and water, wool and linen, and olive oil and drink. (Hosea 2:5) The gifts of these other lovers were too enticing. In the face of such temptation, the people of God could not remain true and faithful to God. Whatever love they had for God was easily replaced by the lure of worldly comforts.
Add to their unfaithfulness an absence of gratitude. The people of God did not acknowledge that God was the source of their grain, new wine and oil. They did not say that God was the one who had given them silver and gold. Not only did they not show gratitude to God, but they took the very gifts that God had given them, God’s expression of love and care for them, and used those gifts in their worship of Baal. They took the gifts God had given them and enjoyed those gifts with other lovers. (Hosea 2:8)
They were unfaithful and ungrateful. God is persistent and loving. God decides to take the people of God away from temptation and into the wilderness. In the wilderness, away from everything that might come between God and God’s people, Hosea says that God will speak tenderly to them.
Thanksgiving has come and gone. Advent is upon us. Our journey to Bethlehem and to the manger of our Savior is about to begin. Before we get there, we might consider some time in the wilderness — time away from everything and anything that might come between us and God — time when we can hear God speaking tenderly to us.
Above all, Advent is a time for making things right with God. It is a season of self-examination and repentance; a time when we would do well to take stock of how things stand between us and God.
If God is distant and far away, it may be that like the people of God to whom Hosea spoke, we have gone after other lovers. It may be that we have filled our lives with so many obtainables, consumables, and obligations that we have little time left to listen to the tender voice of God.
Perhaps such a condition isn’t so troublesome, particularly if we do not long for the nearness of God. Life in the 21st Century is full of all sorts of interesting ways to occupy our time and engage our senses. However, if we do have a longing to be near to God, to hear His tender voice and to be loved by Him, we must make room for God and time for God. God will fill us only to the extent that we are empty. As Miester Eckhart said, “If you are to receive God’s joy and God, you are obliged to pour out created things.”
May the approaching season of Advent be for you a time of emptying and making room “...so that you may be filled.”
Joy and peace,
Ed
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