Coming home

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

Have you ever been afraid to return home? Was it because you’d done something so terrible you thought there was no forgiveness possible? Was it because you’d been gone so long that you thought there was nothing left of home for you? Was it because you’d forgotten what home was and you were worried that everyone would be disappointed?

Others have felt that way, too.

This week’s Bible reading from Isaiah 40:1-11 carries with it similar emotions to the ones anyone who has ever been afraid to return home has likely felt. It starts, recognizing the fears of a people who have been in exile for so long, with words of comfort:

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.

Have you been estranged for far too long? How do these words of comfort affect you?

May this advent season be one filled with comforting homecomings for all who have been estranged.