The Third Sunday of Advent (Ps) December 16th

Psalm 102:13-28

¹³  You will arise and have pity on Zion; 

it is the time to favor her; 

the appointed time has come. 

¹⁴  For your servants hold her stones dear 

and have pity on her dust. 

¹⁵  Nations will fear the name of the Lord, 

and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. 

¹⁶  For the Lord builds up Zion; 

he appears in his glory; 

¹⁷  he regards the prayer of the destitute 

and does not despise their prayer. 

¹⁸  Let this be recorded for a generation to come, 

so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: 

¹⁹  that he looked down from his holy height; 

from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, 

²⁰  to hear the groans of the prisoners, 

to set free those who were doomed to die, 

²¹  that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, 

and in Jerusalem his praise, 

²²  when peoples gather together, 

and kingdoms, to worship the Lord. 

²³  He has broken my strength in midcourse; 

he has shortened my days. 

²⁴  “O my God,” I say, “take me not away 

in the midst of my days— 

you whose years endure 

throughout all generations!” 

²⁵  Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, 

and the heavens are the work of your hands. 

²⁶  They will perish, but you will remain; 

they will all wear out like a garment. 

You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, 

²⁷  but you are the same, and your years have no end. 

²⁸  The children of your servants shall dwell secure; 

their offspring shall be established before you. 

Do you hear the world groan?  Do you hear prisoners crying out for redemption?  Do you hear people in suffering crying out for relief?  Do you hear anyone looking for hope?  It is amazing what you can hear if you listen a little.

"Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praised the Lord."  New people will hear the word of God, and become believers.  The Psalmist tells us the truth.  The Psalmist reminds us that God will raise up new servants to believe in him.

John the Baptist said that God could raise up children of Abraham out of stones.  God will create new people to praise the Lord.  This should be a good lesson for most of us.  It is God who creates people to praise his name.  It is God who creates in you a clean heart and a new spirit within you.