Rejoice in promised homecoming
JOE MILLER JR.
Isaiah 35:1-10

Joe Miller Jr. is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Newton.

In 1943, Bing Crosby recorded I'll Be Home for Christmas. Within a month, the song hit in the top of the music charts and remained there for 11 weeks. It touched a tender place in the hearts of Americans, both soldiers and civilians, who were then in the depths of World War II. It became the most requested song at Christmas U.S.O. shows in both Europe and the Pacific.

It has become an American Christmas classic. Here it is Christmas again, and many people have family in Iraq and Afghanistan wishing that they could be home for Christmas.

The people that the prophet addressed in this scripture knew something about being away from home. The Israelites had been dispersed throughout the known world for generations. They had not even seen or known of 'home' except through the stories passed down from their ancestors, who had been ejected from their homes by conquering armies and oppressive foreign regimes.

In this text God promised a return home that would exceed their expectations for a glorious homecoming. First, even nature would rejoice along with the people. Also, those who were not able to make the trip would be healed by God, and God would come and collect the people Himself.

The way home would be supplied with water and turned into a safe haven, even though the land was a sandy desert. The way home would become a Holy Way, and no one could possibly get lost along the way. These people had never been home, and they had no real way of knowing what to expect when they did get there. But God promised they would have everlasting joy and gladness when they got there.

It appears that many Americans will not be coming home for Christmas. Many who are returning are coming home with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and physical, emotional, and psychological problems.

We should insist that their return home be with everlasting joy and gladness rather than them being ignored. Unfortunately, many will not be returning at all. Christmas will be hard for families that have lost loved ones to violence in a foreign land. It will be hard to experience any joy in those circumstances.

Hopefully, some day, what the angels promised to the shepherds will come true: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors!" Can there ever be peace on earth?

Join me in prayer that this war will end and that our military personnel will all return to American soil as soon as possible. Then we can all experience the everlasting joy of the birth of the Christ child.