This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent.
For some, Advent is something that has been practiced for as long as they can remember, for others this is something new, so let’s chat a little about Advent.
I like the way the Bible Project explains Advent…
Let me summarize…
Advent is a four-week season in the Church calendar dedicated to anticipating the arrival, or “advent,” of Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah and King. Christians from many backgrounds celebrate this time with reflections on hope, peace, love, and joy. And while their practices may look different, all focus on the hope-filled arrival of Jesus.
From the first story to the last, the Bible is full of narratives, poetry, prophecy, biographies, and personal letters that inform our understanding of Advent. When the Bible talks about humans waiting for the promised anointed King who would deliver them, it can help us connect with their anticipation (Amos 9:11-13). When we read about people choosing joy and hope in God’s promises despite their circumstances, the meaning of Advent can take on a deeper meaning (Isa. 9:6-7, 11:1-5; Luke 1:26-2:20). And when the New Testament talks about a second advent, the return of Jesus, we can join in that time of waiting, shared by Christians throughout history (Rev. 21:1-5).
This year our Advent theme will be… Together On The Journey. I love the metaphor of our following Jesus as being on a journey. I appreciate the way “journey language” includes not only the final destination but also the process of getting there. I also appreciate the community aspect of the journey, we are not journeying alone.
This Sunday as we begin our Advent journey, we are invited to think about the difficult parts of our journey.
I offer you two scriptures to sit with this week…
Daniel 6:6–18
Luke 23:1–5
Resist the urge to continue reading beyond our scriptures. I am sure you know how these stories end but allow yourself to sit with the difficulties of Daniel’s and Jesus’ situations.
It is interesting to me that in both stories, there was a higher authority that could have prevented the difficult situation. But there was no intervention.
Does that seem fair?
Does that seem just?
Does that seem loving?
How does it feel when we are in the depths of the struggle?
How does it feel when we have moved past the difficult situation and look back at that time of pain, difficulty, and struggle?
What gets you through the difficult times?
Let’s talk about it on Sunday.
~ Pastor Dustin
