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| Julia MacKinnon and grandson Nolan light the Advent 1 candle in 2014. |
God’s Activity
In anticipation of Advent, we might resolve to create an
atmosphere of hope, peace, joy, and love in our hearts, our
homes, and our relationships. We might resolve to disengage
from the commercial hype and reconnect to the “true meaning
of Christmas.” Yet, somewhere around mid-December,
we might find ourselves doing exactly the sort of thing we
resolved not to do: buying a frivolous gift for someone who
already has everything; agreeing to attend another party
when we’d rather stay home listening to quiet music; rushing
out for more decorations or delicacies with no thought
for the impact on the planet.
We are living embodiments of the Advent theme of
“now and not yet.” We intend to proclaim our faith in the
restorative power of God’s ways, and we are encouraged
by a vision of what life – our own and others – might be
like if God’s love was the grounding for all our words and
actions. In spite of our highest hopes, we find ourselves in
circumstances that challenge and contradict this vision.
The Advent readings from Isaiah are spoken to a
community who were also longing for their lives to reflect
God’s ways of peace and justice. The psalmist recalls God’s
commanding presence with the people in the past, and
by doing so invokes hope for the future. With the angel’s
announcement to Mary in the gospel of Luke, we catch
a vision of how completely lives can be changed by “the
power of the Most High.” Each focus passage reflects the
tension between where the people are now, and what the
future might hold. Each catches a flavour of the unsettled
nature of “now and not yet.”
The first hearers of these stories might have understood
our Advent anxieties pretty well. May the gift of these texts
help us to take the long view of God’s ways unfolding in
the world. The very fact that we recognize a gap between
our intentions and our actions is affirmation that the Spirit
is with us. Presents or gifts of presence, crowds or solitude,
feasting or simplicity; God is here. Hallelujah.
Advent draws us into serious preparation for a sacred
Christmas celebration, and the Season of Christmas invites
us to express ourselves and our new understanding and
appreciation of what God has done in entering the worldly
sphere, “in the fullness of time.” We pause – between
greeting the arrival and moving out into new action – to
ponder more deeply the meaning of God’s decisive action
to restore and reform our relationships with one another,
creation, and God. The outcome of God’s taking action
is our seeing greater justice among us, stronger bonds of
community between us, and a glorious sense of peace and
well-being – true shalom.
■■ What are your anxieties during this Advent season?
What are your hopes?
■■ Where might you experience God’s loving ways during
Advent – in what places, relationships, events?
■■ What message of hope and encouragement can you
bring to another this Advent?
■■ What hope/peace/joy/love have you discovered
because of celebrating a truly sacred Christmas?
■■ What actions come to mind that expresses your hope.
Peace, joy, and love?
Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFusion Advent • Christmas • Epiphany 2017–2018
Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2017 pp. 8-9
