Bible scholar E. Schuyler English received a phone call one day. A woman's voice said, "Dr. English, I am calling from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The hand of God is here." Excuse me? thought Dr. English. The hand of God is at the museum? Then Dr. English recalled that several months before, he had ordered a replica of Rodin's sculpture, The Hand of God, from the museum gift shop. It had finally arrived. (1)

The prophet Isaiah was eager to see the hand of God at work among his people. He implores the Almighty, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you . . ."

Welcome, on this first Sunday of Advent--this season of the church year set aside to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord. This is a season of anticipation and joy. T…