Sunday
marked the beginning of Advent, a time of remembrance
and preparation for the coming of Jesus into the world. Especially
for those of us who do not attend liturgical worship services, it is
easy to forget about this special period of hope and expectancy in
the midst of darkness. Advent is mostly obscured by the Holiday Season that is so vigorously promoted by the profit-driven
society in which we reside. Our practice of remembering the coming of
Jesus groans under the weight of the prosperity cult that has emerged
as our unifying national religion.
In the
face of this consumerist onslaught, Advent stands as a mark of
radical
resistance to the Empire of this world. Together, we remember how
God has entered into our world in the person of Jesus Christ, and we
confess that it is only in his Empire (his Kingdom) that we may find
true peace and fulfillment.
It is
easy to forget how radical this season is meant to be. Advent is not
about egg nog, Christmas carols and sleigh rides - it is an act of
shared recognition that the true Lord and Love of our lives has
entered into the world and has unmasked the powers that hold us in
bondage. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! He is here to unmask
and put an end to the evil of sex trafficking, political corruption,
environmental devastation and the dehumanizing attitudes that have
infected every human heart. The
Empire of this world is become the Empire of our Lord, and of his
Messiah!
His
coming is like a refiner's fire, which purifies and strips down everything that stands in the way of the abundant life that the
Spirit is calling us into. Who can endure the day of his coming, and
who can stand when Jesus himself appears in our midst? As we endure
this world's "Holiday Season," God calls us away from our
selfish consumption and comforting rituals. Instead, we are invited
to become agents of Christ's work of unmasking the powers and
bringing healing to our broken society.
The
coming weeks are a time for revolutionary boldness. Now is the time
to remember that the
true Light that enlightens everyone is coming into the world.
This is a moment to radically reorient our lives and turn towards the
the upside-down
Kingdom. We are being offered an opportunity to (re)affirm our
commitment to the loving Empire of Jesus, and to renounce the
death-dealing Empire that so often seems unassailable.
For we
know that Jesus
has already overcome the world. What would it look like for us to
participate in his victory? How might we change our whole
orientation, seeing
clearly the way that God is re-making the whole of creation? Are we ready to
turn away from the darkness and confusion of this world and turn
towards the
light that we find in the face of Jesus? Are we prepared to tear
away the veil of confusion and embrace the radical implications of the message
that simmers just under the surface of the Holiday Season?
1 comment:
Now, don't get me wrong...Christmas has been far my favorite Holiday for a long time.. However, this year I found out it has pagan roots.... catch this youtube video called the Origins of Christmas..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQooEcGrGvM&feature=relmfu
Does this deter you at all in celebrating? Are we not called to follow Jesus? And Jesus would not celebrate a pagan inspired holiday? And it isn't even his real birthday?
I am just looking for thoughts in regards to Christmas. I am a bit confused as to where to go (which I shouldn't be since. follow Jesus right?) but it still seems like a huge decision to say I don't want to celebrate? Any thoughts?
Post a Comment