Advent Reflection
I have been musing a lot lately on this quote from Walter Brueggemann, “The prophetic tasks of the church are to tell the truth in a society that lives in illusion, grieve in a society that practices denial, and express hope in a society that lives in despair.”
As we head into Advent 2020, I can’t help but think of how critical it is that we as Christ’s followers allow the apocalypse of this past year to stir in us this prophetic call. Not trying to predict elections or read the trends of the marketplace; not tweet worthy slogans and pithy quotes filling the attention deprived space of social media; but to the essence of who we are to be as Gods people. A prophetic people. People of truth. People of vulnerability. People of hope.
Light in the darkness.
For centuries the Church Calendar, through the practice of Advent, has annually reminded us to recognize how full of expectation we are to be, and to turn from the distracting idols that steal our gaze. The darkness that presses in. We are to live with the anticipation of the inbreaking luminance of Jesus no matter how grim things seem.
Light in the darkness.
Through the ebbs and flows of the seasons of humanity, coming full circle each year, we realize the power of Advent. He has come. He has never forsaken. He is with us. He will come again. He not only entered our story, He transforms it. Transforms us. Inside out and upside-down.
Light in the darkness.
In the rhythms of spiritual discipline and formation, we are to lean into the truth of Advent, that though there be weeping in the night, there will come joy in the morning. There will be beauty for ashes, and we will receive the oil of gladness that adorns. Blessed are those who mourn. The story is never over, the eternal is within reach. His kingdom come and coming.
Light in the darkness.
We, now perhaps more than ever, are called to not only celebrate Advent, but to become Advent. We are to be hope, peace, love and joy come in this world.
Light in the darkness.
Let us shine this Advent. Freed of the shackles of our buildings and rote programs, let us renegotiate the obligatory nature of what our faith may have become over the years and rediscover the light that we are. The Light we are to reflect. To be like the One who shines into the darkness within us and the darkness around us. His advent is upon us, shining with such exuberance that it ignites us to shine like a light on a hill. If the world ever needed such illumination, it needs it now. Let it come.