Readings:
Sermon:
It seems very troubling that no sooner has much of the world stood respectfully and reverently to keep two minutes silence to honour those who have died for their country in the pursuit of peace and the common good, then normal service is resumed as various countries get back to not really liking each other at all. Many Advent readings reflect this distress and a sense of impending doom. The prophet Baruch talks of the “garment of sorrow and affliction”. The apocalyptic vision of the Gospel writers, of distress among nations, as they eagerly anticipated the second coming of Jesus, seems to strike a chilling chord. Like many of the warnings which fill the gospels, they can be lifted straight from the page and made to sound as if they were written today.
In the midst of all of this distress it’s good to hear John the Baptist, representing every prophetic voice, calling out, “Prepare the way of the Lord…. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low…and the rough way made smooth.”
The big Advent themes of the world being turned upside down with the coming of the Lord, with the light coming into the darkness, is perfect for today. You may know all about darkness because it fills the news every single day. The challenge on your Advent journey, maybe as a gathered community of followers of Christ, is whether you know and believe and find hope in the good news that Jesus as the light shining in the darkness has come into the world. With John’s enthusiasm can you see that this is a time to believe that all that is good and full of light will never be quashed by the evil of this world? Can you listen to all of God’s prophets and hear their words of hope coming out of the midst of distress?
If the thought of light coming into the world gives you hope and means something for you then these remaining weeks of Advent are a precious time to reflect on what it actually means to have hope at a time that often feels like the end of the world. The traditional Advent themes of Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell are all part of that. They sound potentially scary and unsettling but can actually be reminders that we are human and mortal, that we are encouraged, instructed, advised, to use our time well and that every action has a consequence. And because of the sort of world that we now live in everyone will see the judgement we can bring upon ourselves. This is as much for you as it is for world leaders and those who hold earthly power and authority.
The big Advent themes can also remind you that God is actually over all of creation and in all of creation, in this time and beyond all time. John the Baptist reminds everyone that at one particular moment in this time, God, the ultimate creator, chooses to be accessible to us as the “Jesus-shaped God.” With this there can always be hope and redemption for humanity. It might be costly and difficult and you might want to turn away from this amazing light in the world, keep in the shadows and not tell anyone what it is that you are really looking for this Advent. The big Advent themes call us to remember that God’s love for humanity will remain for all time. The choice is whether to hold onto it, believing in the hope and light that it brings; believing that your response to such self-giving love needs some careful thought and reflection.
Even with John the Baptist crying out, Advent can be a little bit Christmassy and you might need to work to find proper time and space when you can stop and have the opportunity to reflect on what Advent and those big themes might mean for you on your journey of faith and what they might mean for all of creation. Finding some time out of the busyness and routine that is December can be time for you and God. You might find time at home or as part of a church service, in person or online. Perhaps this Advent make that commitment to find the time so that you may not be those who live with fear and foreboding of end times, but rather as someone who are waits hopefully and expectantly and who can boldly shout out with John that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Questions:
- How are you finding time and space for reflection this Advent?
- How might you share some of the Advent hope with the people around you?