Looking Up To The Mountains

Thousands of tourists have been to the mountains of New England in the past weeks, drinking in the foliage, which, unfortunately, has not been as spectacular as in other years. Looking to the mountains for help, for inspiration, for beauty is a long tradition. In Psalm 121 we read "I look to the mountains, / does my help come from there?" (Ps 121: 1). Another translation reads, "will they come to my aid?" And another, "from where shall my help come?" The answer is unanimous: "My help comes from the Lord, /who made the heavens and the earth." (Ps 121: 2). It is not the mountains themselves, but their Creator. Jesus and Mary prayed this same psalm and as is evident in their lives, knew that the source of all help is God. "For the Lord is a great God, the great King above all gods./ He owns the depths of the earth,/ and even the highest mountains are his." (Ps 95: 3).
In a week we will begin the four week period of Advent, a time when we prepare for Christmas, not by frenzied shopping, but by turning to the heart of the season, the coming of this God, the maker of heaven and earth, to dwell among us, to be "incarnate" (now used in the Sunday Creed), made flesh among us. Let us not stray from this truth and be caught up in foliage that disappoints, and actually makes more work for us by raking it up, or by mountains which are only the handiwork of God, as magnificent as they are. No, the Maker of all of this is more magnificent and knew no beginning nor knows no end. "Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth." May that be our mantra today and always.
Bro. Rene