Come Lord Jesus
Katia always looked ahead, but during a war looking ahead was an even better thing to do. For the moment it was an issue of safety. Looking to the future was an avenue to maintain the hope of better things to come. To come......
At her church, Katia was surprised to learn that the word advent meant to come--to come to.
Advent always meant Christmas was coming, but Katia did not realize that advent also was a call - a call to come to the "light of the world"—to return to the dawning of Hope—the hope against which the gates of hell will not prevail.
As the lecturer read, "Marshall your troops, O city of troops, for siege is laid against us." For the first time Katia understood that the promise of Advent, "He will stand and shepherd his flock.....And they will live securely..... And he will be their peace," was made for war. Was first given to a people suffering war.
Then the worship leader read another Advent scripture Katia had never heard. "But who can endure the day of His coming.... It will burn like a fire.... Not a root or a branch will be left. but for you who revere my name, the Son of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. Then the Lord will have men who will bring an offering of righteousness."
In the unleashed evil of this war, when good men did evil, did Katia dare to imagine men of righteousness.
"O come Lord Jesus. Come," Katia prayed.
Since advent was supposed to be a time of fasting and prayer, Katia asked her mom if she could fast this second week of advent.
Normally, that might be dangerous for a ten-year-old but, with her body already used to going without, Mother consented - but just for three days.
It is easier to fast when you have no food or have to search to find it. You simply just don’t go looking. There is no temptation to eat something. There is nothing.
Today, Katia was meditating on the Kingdom of God coming. At church she had written down a quote, "the Kingdom is not only beyond our effort (that seemed clear in this war between Christians), it is even beyond our vision."*
"Come, Lord Jesus," Katia prayed. "Come talk to me. Walk with me. Bring your kingdom into this war." She longed so much for this Day of Hope.
"Katia, come."
In the quiet of her meditation the voice startled her.
Immediately she was on her feet.
"Come," during war, was never answered with "why" or "where." You got up and went.
A bomb. The chance of escape. A drop of food. An injured person needing help. The return of a lost friend. It did not matter if the reason for the call was good or bad. You heard, "come," and you went.
"Where are we going?" Katia asked her Mother.
Mother gave her a curious look and went on working quietly.
So Katia stepped to the door and looked out.
No one was at the door. No one was going. No one was preparing to go. Though it was almost dark, no one was in the street, except Ekrim and a few old men, sitting on his step.
No one had called.
"I heard someone say, ‘Come, Katia come.’" Katia turned to her Mother, but Mother just tipped her head and shrugged.
Puzzled, Katia returned to her room. A cold wind was blowing through her shattered window. It was almost dark, and she had not lit her candles today. Perhaps if she hurried she could say her prayers before the candlelight would be too visible from the outside.
Quickly, she arranged her little jars on the ring of pine boughs. With the wind blowing through the window the only way the candle stubs would burn was protected by the glass. She repeated the prayer for the first week, but at the last moment decided not to light that candle. Two lights are much brighter than one. She did not want to risk it.
Quietly, she whispered the prayer for week two and again added, "Come Lord Jesus." As she lit the brown stub of the second candle, she added, "I need you."
It happened so quickly she could hardly remember.
"Come Katia!"
The voice was urgent.
Startled, she popped to her feet and just as she turned her head the whistle and rush of a bullet brushed her ear. The glass on the second candle shattered and the bullet put out the fire.
"I am here."
The voice was softer now.
Katia’s heart raced, but her prayer and anguish had become a deep peace.
A sudden new hope dawned in her soul. She had never been so sure that Jesus was coming. Despite the war, she was more sure now than ever before. Her soul swelled with longing. She wanted that Kingdom more than life itself.
"Jesus is here. And He is coming!" Katia breathed.
Jesus. In the middle of war, He called her name and protected her heart.
"Indeed," reasoned Katia, "the kingdom we wait for is beyond our efforts and it is even beyond our vision." And yet, even in this war Jesus was here - and - using a bullet he had blown out the candle to keep her safe.
* attributed to Oscar Romero
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