Just about the time that you read this, Christians will be
entering the Season of Darkness. Oh, I know – it’s not called the Season of
Darkness. It’s called Advent. But the Season of Darkness is what Advent really
is.
The days of Advent are in darkness because Christ hasn’t yet
appeared. Without Christ, we have no real hope; and besides, there is very
little to hope for. Without Christ, our joy isn’t complete, because the only
joy we have is the joy of this world. And without Christ, the peace that we
feel is restless, like the fitful sleep that we sometimes experience on a
difficult night.
That’s why, as we prepare for Christmas, Advent doesn’t
begin with Christmas carols. It begins with a cry to God for help! We join the
ancient Israelites in admitting that we can’t fix this world by ourselves. Only
God can do that. With them, we cry out for God to come quickly and help us!
Then, on the heels of our cry for help, we begin to prepare for God to answer
our prayer. We respond to John the Baptist’s demand for repentance. After all,
God can’t do much to help us if we aren’t willing to be helped! Finally, as
Christmas Eve draws near, we ponder the mystery of God’s arrival – not an
arrival as a conqueror on a war horse, but as a helpless child who was born in
the midnight darkness of a barn.
Yes, Advent is the Season of Darkness. Advent is a four-week
version of our own lives. Look at the world around us! Wars rage, leaders care
only for themselves, greed runs rampant, and disasters fall undeserved on the
innocent. Most of the time, we live in darkness. But the Good News of Christmas
is that the Child in the manger brings God’s light. In fact, he is God’s Light! When we light the Advent
candles on the four weeks before Christmas, we affirm that light comes into the
world with the birth of Jesus. And when we light our own candles on Christmas
Eve, they symbolize our lives that show forth God’s light because they are
filled with the presence of Jesus, the Light of the world.
As the darkness deepens during the upcoming season of
Advent, don’t be afraid. Although the darkness is real, just as disasters are
real and suffering is real and evil is real, the Light of the world is coming.
That Light is even more real than the darkness; and when he arrives among us,
the Light will conquer that darkness once and for all. Thanks be to God!
Christmas Blessings to you and yours,
Pastor Lynn
