Advent Countdown
By and large, we treat Advent as a countdown to Christmas Day. Here, I would like to offer another sort of Advent countdown… four - three - two - one. That is four themes, three-time tenses, two figures of note from the New Testament, and one Messiah who is the singular focus.
Let’s consider briefly the 3-2-1 and below identify four themes of the season. Consider first the three tenses. The advent of the Anointed One of God happens in the past, present and future. The Eternal Word was made flesh two thousand years ago in the birth of Jesus. The same Christ comes to you now as you permit God’s Spirit fully to ignite within you. In the consummation of the ages, the universe will see the Eternal One come in unimaginable power and might. Paul writes to the followers in Colossae about the future appearance:
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
The two we think of in Advent are John the Baptist and Mary, the mother of our Lord. John closes the prophetic age of the Old Covenant and in Mary buds the age of the New Covenant. Both of these beautiful figures point to the One, the Messiah, the Principal of all our liturgical seasons.
Now, back to four of the plentiful possibilities of our season’s themes. Attach them to each Sunday in Advent.: 1. watch and wait: 2. repent; 3. rejoice and 4. peace.
We wait and watch in this life for the “desire of nations” as the prophet put it (Haggai 2:6-7)
“Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor,” says the Lord of hosts.
The treasure of all nations or the desire of nations is God-with-us, who comes to deliver. The great Advent hymn picks up the phrase:
O come, desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be Thyself our king of peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
It is for this we watch and wait: fulfillment, deliverance. As Christians, we see that our desire is for Christ. St. Augustine takes up the theme commenting on Psalm 119:81 - My soul languishes for your salvation; I hope in your word. The Bishop of Hippo writes,
“The desire of which we are speaking arises from the love of Christ’s appearance…to judge the living and the dead…Thus, it is the entire Body of Christ, groaning in this life, whom we must fittingly understand as chanting this psalm: ‘My soul pines for your salvation; I hope in your word.’ His word is the promise, and hope enables us to wait with patience for that which is not seen by those who believe.”
Add to “watching and waiting” a second theme or emphasis. In Advent, we are drawn to repent. In repentance, the seeker turns around—away from what is destructive. We turn the whole being toward that which heals and gives life. In the gospels, we hear from Jesus and John the Baptist calling us to a complete change of heart. John prepared the way for Jesus who declared, “The kingdom of God has arrived. you must change your hearts and minds and believe the good news.” (Mark 1:15) repentance is not mere regret and remorse because it drives us toward reversal and reformation.
A third spiritual experience we discover is rejoicing. After Israel returned from exile the governor, priest and Levites announce “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) We hear Mary proclaim, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Recognize restorative mercy and see the strength of God’s arm moving us to joy in elements of fulfilled promise: the lowly are lifted and hungry bellies are filled. Mary joyfully testifies that God shows favor to the lowly servant. Allow your heart to soar in joy.
Finally, anticipate heavenly peace. We long for the internal peace that passes understanding within the heart. We yearn also for the reign of peace, the shalom, that comes as God’s ways are apprehended in full. The prophet’s imagery comes into focus (Isaiah 11:6):
Then the wolf will live with the sheep, and the leopard lie down with the kid: the calf and the young lion shall grow up together, and a little child shall lead them.
I know, it is a lot, but take your time in the weeks ahead. Consider the countdown: the four themes, the three tenses, and the two saints pointing to the one Messiah. And maybe just for the spiritual health of it, let it all go for some quiet, silent, stillness. Add a zero to the countdown: in your spirit, deeply rest with that One Messiah, who is beyond all our thoughts and understanding. Peace be with you.