
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, 1but belong with body and soul,both in life and in death, 2to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 3He has fully paid for all my sinswith his precious blood, 4and has set me freefrom all the power of the devil. 5He also preserves me in such a way 6that without the will of my heavenly Fathernot a hair can fall from my head; 7indeed, all things must work togetherfor my salvation. 8Therefore, by his Holy Spirithe also assures meof eternal life 9and makes me heartily willing and readyfrom now on to live for him.