2 December 2012
In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous
Branch to spring up for David;
and he shall execute justice and righteousness
in the land. --Jeremiah 33:15
To me,
there is nothing sadder than the sight of bare naked trees in winter. Trees
that have dropped all their leaves—they look so cold, and so vulnerable. In a
deciduous forest in winter you cannot tell the living from the dead. All the
trees look lifeless, unless you know what to look for, unless you know how to
read the signs. If you look closely, you can see the buds, even in midwinter.
The buds signify life. The buds are the difference between dormancy and death.
The tree is only sleeping.
This is Advent:
it is a walk in a winter wood, looking for signs of life.
As I
mentioned in our weekly newsletter, I was talking with a group of colleagues a
week or two ago about the perceived “problem” of Advent. Many ministers feel
pressured to skip Advent and go straight to Christmas. I remember a pastor of
my childhood reporting a conversation with the “Altar Guild” (a fancy name for
the women who took charge of polishing the brass candlesticks and arranging for
floral deliveries). One of the ladies complained that the purple candles on the
Advent wreath clashed with the red and green. Reverend Ullman patiently
explained that purple was the color of the season of Advent. Red and green have
no liturgical significance. Purple is the imperial color, the color of kings.
Purple is passionate, and so the church has designated purple as the
appropriate color for Advent. So don’t blame the purple for clashing with the
red and green, blame the red and green for clashing with the purple. And that’s
the story of how Rev. Ullman stood up to the Altar Guild. He didn’t stay long
after that.
I suppose it is tempting to
accommodate the commercial calendar. They are playing carols at the mall, so
why not sing them at church? Isn't all this Advent drama just a pretense anyway?
We know what's coming on December 24-- Christmas Eve, the birth of Jesus,
Angels and shepherds and wise men and fa-la-la-la-la. Why pretend to wait for
what we have already received?
Actually, I think the church plays
it false when we pretend that Christmas is complete, in and of itself, that the
baby king is the Kingdom, that God's salvation has arrived and all is resolved.
The truth is, we abide in Advent. Advent is where we live-- somewhere between
the announcement and the arrival of the peace of Christ, the realm of God.
Advent is a season of waiting.
Waiting in darkness for the lights to come on. Waiting in hunger for breakfast
to be served. Waiting in prison for release to be announced. Waiting in debt
for forgiveness. Waiting on the battlefield for peace and return.
What are you waiting for? Does it
make a difference, hearing that you do not wait alone? How does it feel to know
that all the earth is waiting? Why would anyone want to cheat Advent? Advent is
as real as life gets.
Even if you can think of nothing
for which you are waiting, I invite you to abide in advent. Linger a while.
Keep company with those who are waiting for salvation, forgiveness, peace. Our
salvation is near. The bare trees, representative of dormant dreams, these
trees are budding. Cut a branch, and put it in water. You will see your hope spring
forth.
