Advent is coming . . . .

This reflection comes from a sermon I heard last year on the First Sunday of Advent when instead of a time of waiting, Advent was presented as a time of coming…. as a time of getting ready for Jesus to come again into our lives.

Although I’m sure I have heard this message before, it has stuck with me this time. There are many deaths in our lives and following each death is an advent…a time of the coming again of hope, shalom, justice and love, a coming again of ‘The Way’ of Jesus into our lives, of regaining our equilibrium once again. In this hemisphere, the darkness of this time of year, reminds us vividly of the darkness that engulfs our hearts from time to time.

While it is sometimes difficult to even see death in the death of relationships, the death of beliefs, the death of a community, these deaths need to be acknowledged and time for grieving them needs to be taken. This is what Advent can give us, that space to come again, to re-create, to become who we really are.

                                                  Tomorrow Christ is coming, 

as yesterday he came

a child is born this moment

we do not know his name.

The world is full of darkness,

again there is no room,

the symbols of existence,

are stable,cross and tomb.

[Words: Fred Kaan]

But what is really important is to remember that this time of coming, is not only for the four liturgical weeks of Advent. Those four weeks are to serve as a reminder to us, to let that spirit of coming be with us throughout the year, wherever it is or whatever the reason for it. Let this Advent be a time of be-coming for you.