I’ve always loved Advent. The ideas of spiritual renewal in the waning of the year, lighting candles in the darkness, and remembering the promise of Christ’s birth are rich ones for me. Growing up, we always had an Advent wreath on our kitchen table during the season, and lighting the candles and praying together before dinner was one of the constants in our sometimes chaotic family life.
The readings for this first Sunday in Advent are a nice transition for me from Thanksgiving to the Advent season. Paul gives thanks for all the spiritual gifts and graces we have received from God, and assures us: “[Y]ou are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
To me, Advent has often seemed like the spiritual version of what we’re doing in the physical world to get ready for Christmas – cleaning house, decorating, buying gifts; hopefully, not going overboard, and remaining mindful of the reason for the season. The reading from Isaiah is a reminder of God’s power and promise to us, but also of our responsibility to live with meaning and purpose so that “our good deeds” will not be “like polluted rags.”
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” This has a different meaning now than it did for Mark’s original audience, who were expecting Christ’s imminent return, but it is a good reminder for me this season that I need to be self-aware and make sure that I am putting God’s word into action this Advent and always. -- AOH
No comments:
Post a Comment