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“Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming—look busy!” Advent is here, and we are all preparing for Christmas, the time the whole world pays attention, at some level, that Jesus Christ was born. Whether they are conscious of it or not, when “the world” talks about Christmas, even if they are in a purely secular mode of discussion, I always hold out a glimmer of hope that the “Christ” of “Christmas” will shine through. Year after year, I pray that people remember “the reason for the season”—that it is about allowing God’s Son, “Prince of Peace”, “Lord of Lords”, “Light of Lights” enter our hearts, again and again. It is not about out-doing each other in our “busyness.” Do you know that “Advent” means “the coming”? For the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas we celebrate each Sunday in expectation of the coming of Christ. While the Macy’s parade and other commercialized events prepare the secular world for shopping and Santa Claus, the church encourages us to stop and reflect quietly, meaningfully on the wonder of just how God managed to come into this world as a poor, helpless baby. We light candles on our Advent wreaths, one each week until all 4 are lit. This year Advent IV is December 24, the morning of Christmas Eve, so we will celebrate the 10am morning service as “Advent IV” (no 8am service), and our two evening services (7pm and 11pm) as Christmas mass. The sanctuary Advent Wreath will have the white Christmas candle placed in the middle for the Christmas Eve services. Christmas day we invite you to enjoy your time with your families and friends. As much as many of us enjoy gathering at the church for Christmas morning, we realize that 3 services on Christmas Eve Sunday will stretch us far enough, and will therefore not have a Christmas morning service. As I reflected upon what it means to imagine “the coming” of Christ, I found myself looking at some of Jesus’ words on what it means for his return—the “second coming”. Luke 18 is an intriguing passage in which Jesus tells his disciples about the importance of unceasing praying. He says we are to pray at all times, and to not lose heart; if we pray unceasingly, we will be ready when he returns. To illustrate this unceasing prayer, Jesus uses the parable of a widow who goes before the judge for legal protection. It is assumed that the widow has no money to pay for a lawyer, and no male representative to offer her protection (protection from the bill collectors, probably!) The judge is annoyed with this widow coming to him day after day, pleading her case, but after a while he is worn down by her persistence. And so, because she is faithful in her pleading, the judge grants her legal protection. Jesus says we are to be like the widow—we are to “cry out to God day and night” and He will bring justice. As Jesus ends this teaching on prayer, he asks this question: “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” My question is, even after all these years, can we do our part to offer unceasing prayer that will cause the transformation of the world, so that our world will be prepared for the presence of Christ? Will this prayer in fact be the means by which Christ CAN return? One by one as we pray and our hearts turn toward the “Light of Lights”, we begin to see it IS possible for Christ’s return, and we are filled with hope. Invite your friends, and come share that hope with us in Advent and Christmas. Peace to you in Christ, , |
