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Sunday, November 27, 2011

It Is Time. Advent Is Here.
By webmaster @ 12:01 AM :: 347 Views :: 0 Comments :: Dr. Michael Brown

'Tis the season! No way around it. Advent is upon us (and, by the time you read this, will have officially arrived).

I was walking down 50th Street this morning, watching city workers put lights and wreaths on lamp posts. Store windows are dressed and ready. This week I am writing two sermons – a Thanksgiving sermon for WeWo and then my first Advent sermon of 2011 for Sunday morning.

Admittedly, some tried to usher the season in significantly before it was time. Numerous department stores had trees up and carols playing prior to Halloween! Someone shared with me a cute cartoon of excited crowds waiting to celebrate. A Thanksgiving turkey was saying to Santa: "Wait your turn, bub! I get to go first!" The cartoonist was making the point, as we noted, that some try to usher the season in significantly before it's time. But now, it is time. Advent is here.

An interesting point theologically is that Advent is a season of waiting. For us it is a time for being busy, for rushing, for shopping, for crowding the calendar with a million different events and parties and obligations. But biblically, it was a time for stillness, prayer, and waiting. The Hebrews prayed and waited for centuries for the Messiah to arrive. Mary waited patiently for her Baby to be born.

I am not naïve enough to encourage you to make December a month of stillness and quiet. That is probably impossible. However, I would encourage you to create some Advent during the month of December. We are waiting for Christmas to come. December 25th has not arrived yet. So, somewhere in your crowded and hurried schedule, carve out time for quiet, contemplation, and prayer. Think about what it actually means that a Messiah came and promises to come again. Think about Incarnation and how God's personality and passions are revealed in the Carpenter from Nazareth. Think about what life would be like (both life in general and your life in particular) had Christ not come. Think about what your life can be like if you allow Him even greater entrée this year and how His presence can bring power and peace.

During Advent, we wait... prayerfully, hopefully, thoughtfully. We imagine what life can be if the Messiah lives it with us and through us. And then, come Christmas, we offer Him welcome and say: "This year, I want to be more open to You than I have been in years past." All the stores, shopping, and parties notwithstanding, don't jump straight into Christmas yet. Instead, treat yourself to the spiritual depth and beauty of the season of prayerful waiting which we call Advent.

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