This morning, in the quiet before the lights were turned on or the sun shone through the windows, I lit the fourth candle on the Advent wreath, the candle that represents peace. I noticed, with all four candles now lit, the Christ candle that sits in the middle, traditionally lit on Christmas Eve, shown bright even though there was no flame. It was as if in the middle of hope, love, joy, and peace, Christ could be found.
What does the coming of Christ have to do with peace? Certainly peace hasn’t reigned since he’s come. War and injustice abound. And do we even have personal peace? No, there are conflicts and worries in each of our lives. And yet it seems very important to Jesus. We see the concept even in the telling of his birth and then throughout the gospels as something of importance to Jesus. He chastises the powerful about it and uses it to bless those He’s healed as they go.
Jesus quotes the book of Isaiah as part of His explanation for coming to earth to preach the Kingdom of God (the good news, the gospel).
The Lord God’s spirit is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release for captives, and liberation for prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and a day of vindication for our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 to provide for Zion’s mourners, to give them a crown in place of ashes, oil of joy in place of mourning, a mantle of praise in place of discouragement. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, planted by the Lord to glorify himself. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore formerly deserted places; they will renew ruined cities, places deserted in generations past. (61:1-4)
When Jesus talks about the Kingdom, when Jesus rebukes the powerful, when Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus quotes these words of the prophet Isaiah as the purpose for His coming, peace always accompanies justice. Peace will not be realized until justice reigns and justice won’t reign until we bring it. For those of us who follow Jesus, bringing justice is partnering with God’s work.
Reverend Charles Strobel, in a collection of reflections for Advent says, “We experience dissatisfaction because we know we have not created the world that God imagines. We have not created the kingdom of on earth as it is in heaven” (Keep Watch with Me, 2019).
In a time when we want to feel hope, joy, excitement, this quote is kind of a downer. However, Advent is a season of waiting and often times we find waiting dissatisfactory. Sometimes, we even fill our waiting with activity. Perhaps during this season, we can spend some of our time waiting pondering justice and therefore peace, lamenting where it is absent, and asking how we can partner with God in bringing it.
Today, starts the third week of Advent, the focus–Joy. First though, let us back up and remember the second week–love.
Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, CEB
Does it feel like love is missing? Are we hard pressed to find it in our current climate where innocent children are killed by another child? Where kids find it funny to pull serious pranks in order to get a day off school, causing other students and parents much anxiety? Where injustice reigns and slander is upheld over truth? Where politics rip families apart? Where fathers lie for their son instead of protecting their daughters? Where an average number of deaths by Covid each day lingers right around 1,000 and people have become so desensitized that they hardly bat an eye anymore? Where the weak are preyed on by the powerful?
The week leading up to the second Sunday of Advent was a hard one for me. One day brought a culmination of a year long battle, the brunt of it taking place in the previous 6-8 weeks. During this time, people showed love to me in a variety of ways. So, I know it is there. Yet, I didn’t have the words to share love with you. I wanted something different. Sure, Christmas was an act of love as God sent God’s son to the world. We see the love continued in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. “No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13, CEB). And I’m not belittling that at all. I just wanted to share something else, something special that could be held onto through this season.
As I wrote a thank-you to so many who have been my strength over the last year, I noticed a theme–presence. A couple of those who were present with me offered something not all could; they identified with me. I remember on one particularly bad day, I sat with a friend. We swapped stories late into the night until I was tired enough to sleep. Not only was I tired, but the sadness and anxiety that would have otherwise kept me awake was lessened in the presence of a friend who understood. That friend continued to be present with me in the coming weeks in different ways and I will be forever grateful.
Did you know that Jesus’ death on the cross wasn’t just an act of atonement, but one of identification? Throughout Jesus’ life and as he hung on the cross, he experienced the same atrocities we have. He identifies with the betrayal of a friend. He identifies with being the victim of sexual abuse, as he hung NAKED on a cross as people hurled insults. He identifies with those unjustly accused and punished. He identifies with being deserted by those you love. He identifies with being beaten. He identifies with being unable to breathe. He identifies with the legalism of the religious. He identifies with being hungry and homeless. He identifies with the grief experienced when losing a loved one. The list goes on. And here’s the kicker…He chose this! I am thankful for those who have been vulnerable enough to share with me the hard parts of life in which they identify with me. It is a gift, but I doubt they would have chosen those experiences of the past. Jesus did though. In the coming of Jesus, His life and death, God chose to identify with us and I find this a magnificent act of love. I think A. W. Tozer may have said it best:
“I confess that I am struck with the wonder and the significance of the limitless meaning of these two words, HE CAME. Within them the whole scope of divine mercy and redeeming love is outlined. All the mercy God is capable of showing, all of the redeeming grace that He could pour from His heart, all of the love and pity that God is capable of feeling–all of these are at least suggested here in the message that HE CAME!”
And now, hearts bursting with love, let us turn our minds to joy, the theme of this third week of Advent.
Tonight, as we drove home from dinner at friends’, we were looking at Christmas lights. Jeremiah exclaimed, “They’re beautiful…like mom.” I smiled. Then, a little quieter, “Yes! I scored mom points.” I laughed! This simple moment from a witty kid brought joy that escaped in a smile and laughter. It was certainly welcome. I seem to be failing at Christmas this year. In all honesty, a song by Faith Hill featured in Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas resonates with me as much as any song about the birth of Jesus.
Where are you Christmas?
Why can’t I find you?
Why have you gone away?
Where is the laughter
You used to bring me?
Why can’t I hear music play?
My world is changing
I’m rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too?
Where are you Christmas?
Do you remember
The one you used to know?
I’m not the same one
See what the time has done
Is that why you have let me go?
When a religious remembrance about the coming of Jesus is mixed with a secular celebration (that I don’t have a problem with) and one that is increasingly commercialized (ok, maybe a little problem here, but one I willingly participate in), we are bound to get caught up in the expectations and I’m certainly not meeting them this year. I have no gifts purchased. There are still tubs of decorations out, so my house isn’t in tip-top shape. I haven’t baked a single cookie. We’ve missed a few readings from our yearly Christmas count-down. I’m not busy crafting, making homemade gifts for lots of people. Unmet expectations can lead to stress or feelings of failure, both of which are sure to take the joy out of the season. Not to mention, as stated in previous weeks’ reflections, we are living in hard times. In just a few short weeks, we will be entering the third year in which we’ve lived with a pandemic. There has been much loss of life as well as economic hardship and broken relationships over the best way to deal with the crisis. Mental illness is on the rise.
Jesus came in the midst of hard times. There was an unplanned pregnancy to an unwed mother, a sin in that time and culture punishable by death. There was a confused fiance, knowing the rules but loving this one he thought would be his wife too much to disgrace her. Decisions had to be made. The entire Roman world was feeling the effects of a called census, fearful over impending taxes or war. There were long journeys to register and no vacancies, leaving people to take up shelter in stables, including this couple now ready to have a baby. There were shepherds doing what they do best, watching sheep, something that is often illustrated as a beautiful and serene job, but some say was actually the lowliest of professions held by people who society looked down upon. There was a king plotting to kill. There were escapes in the night. And yet, the account of Christs’ coming is filled with references to joy–joy, rejoicing, etc. (to see just how much, take some time this week to read about in the gospels of Matthew and Luke). Why? How?
God. The answer seems simplistic, I know, but it is the pattern I see. Those who were overjoyed, who rejoiced, who experienced joy were those who knew God or to whom God made God known. The favor Mary had found with God along with her response to the news of what was to come show that she had a relationship with God. The shepherds were visited by angels. The wise men had visions. God made all the difference in a story wrought with circumstances that would leave most fearful, discouraged, angry, anxious, etc.
This pastor believes in vulnerability and authenticity. I can’t pretend to understand entirely because I don’t always experience joy even though I have a relationship with God, but I’m willing to explore and discover, to open my heart and let God work to bring more joy. I’m also willing to look. There are so many moments, no matter how small, like the joking of a silly boy, that allow us to experience joy in the midst of hard seasons. They are blessings if we have eyes to see. During this week of waiting, will you join me in finding joy?
Finding the Extra-Ordinary in the Ordinary 