This, 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13, is probably the first New Testament letter to have been written. I considered ‘letters of the alphabet‘ previously in Advent. Paul is writing to those new of faith who need encouragement, but they are eager to hear of what’s new. There is that link to a community, joy for one another. There’s no carping, criticism but a deep desire for the other to flourish – could we use that on social media perhaps? There is a feeling that the distance they are apart is a concern, a longing to really be with others. Perhaps we might feel that as we would love to be nearer to loved ones far away. Paul is longing to be back but for now that can’t be – until they can meet up again, they will all have to wait.And so it is with Advent, which starts this day, on Advent Sunday.
What does Advent mean?
The word comes from the Greek Parousia, which is linked to Jesus returning; however, when translated into English from the Latin we got adventus or Advent. It really didn’t have a momentous start and only began to be acknowledged in the 5th or 6th C. It was originally a time of fasting, of various lengths, although that faded out in popularity by the middle ages. In the Eastern Church, Advent is a time of preparation for the Orthodox celebration of Christmas at what we call Epiphany. Some elements of the Roman Catholic Church start their Advent a fortnight before many Protestant Churches – we are all focussing upon waiting. It isn’t a time of dreary moping about, but a time of preparing ourselves and the places that we worship and live to welcome into the Christ child.
We might decorate a Christmas Tree, put lights up around the house – inside and out – we might have an Advent Calendar – with or without Chocolate! You can find the paper copy – without chocolate – of the Circuit’s Advent Prayer Calendar here.
Are we a-lert?
In Luke 21: 25-36 we find that phrase ‘Be Alert. I do love that phrase Be on guard or Be alert. We had a lot of such requests as we started the pandemic from the Government. I have recently seen, sadly online, pictures of the aurora borealis, the northern lights. I was able to see them for real many years back when I used to fly with the RAF from northern Norway – they were spectacular. The different colours, often changing gradually as the atmosphere reacts with the emissions from the Sun, it’s mesmerising. But what a signal it might be perceived as in centuries gone by.
Have you seen the Aurora Borealis – what were your first thoughts?
The author of Luke’s Gospel writes of a cosmic upheaval, even felt within the heavenly host as the Son of Man arrives. It sounds a bit like when people move house – I think this needs some unpacking. This Gospel was written, it is thought, after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The upheaval then when Roman soldiers encircled the city and then laid waste to the Jewish treasures brought a seismic change to all that the Jews held dear.
They looked back to their Hebrew Scriptures and noted that from Isaiah 13 and Isaiah 24 were there links which resonated with their current plight. They could see from the book of Joel that in such times the skies would even turn red. We may see such signs these days. The phrase Son of Man links back to the book of Daniel Chapter 7 when there we read of the time when God would return. Jesus is clearly seen in such terms, even more so after the resurrection.
These passages from 1 Thessalonians and Luke, written in different times, to different audiences, by different authors bring together that hope in God being with us, Emmanuel.
Takeaway
They speak of hope, that as we see the ever changing blends of colours within nature, the rolling cycle of the seasons, God remains with us. In verse 33 we read that his, jesus’, words will not fail us. The word used is logis more than just words, his promises, his very being. So as we ponder upon Advent, may it be a time of expectation, of that joy of the birth of Christ, may it be one of hope that we, together, wherever we are – especially here on YouTube – are one community, following God, seeking the kin_dom of God here on earth, so that God’s love is seen, felt and truly experienced by all.
May we yes put hang our decorations, put up our Christmas tree, dangle those stockings, feast daily, or not, on the chocolate filled Advent calendar but also consider that Advent is about preparing ourselves for this season. It doesn’t just arrive but is one that requires our time of preparation, of seeking to be in dialogue with our loving God, wherever, whenever that may be. So as we see our image reflecting back in a bauble, may we ask are we preparing ourselves for Advent this year?
I found the dialogue interesting