My Great Comfort

The Heidelberg Catechism starts off with the question, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?”

Our pastor has departed from the typical Advent texts to preach on Psalm 80. Reading through the emotional and often depressed language of the Psalms has prepared my heart for Advent in a new way. It’s encouraging me to look for my Savior and whispering reminders that the Psalmists prayers, they were answered in a stable.

Our church has had a hard year. There have been great losses and worries. Living in Hawaii means that there is an ever-changing congregation as parishioners leave and new families arrive on island. This year, we’ve lost many people. Some to the mainland, others to the Promised Land. We’ve had grief and confusion and many of us have cried, “Where are you, Lord?”

So yesterday, when we stood together and were asked what our comfort in life was, it brought tears to my eyes when we declared:

That I am not my own, 1

but belong with body and soul,

both in life and in death, 2

to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 3

He has fully paid for all my sins

with his precious blood, 4

and has set me free

from all the power of the devil. 5

He also preserves me in such a way 6

that without the will of my heavenly Father

not a hair can fall from my head; 7

indeed, all things must work together

for my salvation. 8

Therefore, by his Holy Spirit

he also assures me

of eternal life 9

and makes me heartily willing and ready

from now on to live for him.