A SEASON OF ADVENT

Such Gracious Words

"All wondered at the gracious words that proceeded from his mouth" Luke 4: 22.

What was it about our Lord's words that made them so "gracious"; that made people "wonder" at them? Look anywhere in the Scriptures, better still, search the Scriptures, and the reason becomes readily apparent. Consider the words of the psalmist (Psalm 17 [18]): "You, O Lord, are my lamp, my God who lightens my darkness". Are these not the most gracious of words?

However, such a kind and friendly tone is not generally reflected in this psalm: a quality of implied mercy is not so apparent when we read: that the Lord thunders in the heavens to let his voice be heard - he's shouting! - and not so appealing "the waves of death", "torrents of destruction", "snares of the grave" and "traps of death". Worse is to come when we read that "the foundations of the world" are to be left naked "at the thunder of your threat, at the blast of . . . your anger". Violence beyond imagination!

How appropriate is all this violent imagery to reflect the voice of a kind and loving God? We might want to exonerate God from such designs on his creation by transferring responsibility to a disturbed mind simply getting it all off his chest in a classic rage. We might also risk missing the point, or rather ignoring a spiritual truth that involves a truthful assessment of the state of our own mind, an examination of our heart in our relationship with God. There are far more reassuring words to follow in this psalm, ones that I can ill afford to miss: "He brought me forth into freedom, he saved me because he loved me". Ah, the calm after the storm?

The note of urgency that characterises the strong words, the call to be ready for the worst that is to come, seems more appropriate to an approaching tropical cyclone, earthquake or calamitous flood than any mere spiritual exercise. It satisfies me to think about "spiritual readiness" or quiet preparation for "listening" to the sacred texts because there is at the very least a hint here of the psalmist's discovery - his secret - that "the Lord is worthy of all praise". Disposed to listening, I believe he (or she) is showing me the way I too can be guided in my understanding of how God acts in my life.