Since yesterday was Advent Sunday, today I’d like to share a sonnet I wrote during Advent last year.  Every Advent, we use a Jesse tree to remember the characters and stories that make up the bigger story of God’s saving plan for his world.  Rebekah is one of those people, called out of her home to join the family of God. I was struck by the beautiful moment in Genesis 24:62-65 when Isaac and Rebekah see each other for the first time across a distance, and the parallel between the way they approached each other and the way we, as a church, approach the coming King who is on his way to meet us.

Rebekah

She saw the bridegroom, so she veiled her face.
Between them hovered hope, and the unknown;
Love longing lay between, across the space.
Love was between them, and was not yet shown.

Her love stepped out, stepped into the between.
Her beauty now belonging to his praise
Now that she saw him look, while still unseen
She veiled her beauty, waiting for his gaze.

Her advent brought him, searching, from his place:
His advent made her faithfully prepare.
She journeyed on, but now, she veiled her face.
He searched until he found, and met her there.

Is that my Love, come out to meet His bride?
Give me my veil, and bring me to His side.