The Crimson Thread of Christmas – Ezra

Greetings Dear Reader,

Where I live it is Thanksgiving Day as I write this.  I have much for which to be thankful.  I cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like to return from captivity to my desolated homeland.

Ezra returns to Israel to oversee the repatriation of his people and the rebuilding of the temple.  Zerubbabel will be the one who builds it.  They will return the sacred items stolen by Babylon and begin to live out the law once again.  The tapestry begins to reflect mournful waiting. 

In their time of exile they have renewed their understanding of their need for a Messiah.  They have also been cured of their worshiping other gods.  Sometimes the thread is hard to see because it weaves its way among things that seem to overshadow it. 

During the rebuilding the vital nature of the law is rediscovered.  The love of the Father is seen in the way he nurtures the people back to their home.  Having paid the debt of Sabbath years they return longing for the promised King. 

Ezra echoes that his people are ready to have God with them.  They long for him to come and redeem them.  They will not remember the order of things but they will build a place, a nation to receive him. I have plenty and I am thankful for it.  I also realize that I am waiting and in exile until the King returns.

 O Come, O Come Emmanuel – Amy Grant

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny

From depths of Hell Thy people save

And give them victory o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,

And open wide our heavenly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,

In ancient times did'st give the Law,

In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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