So, I
started thinking about what the Advent season should really be, hoping to find
some cheer and encouragement. I came across a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer “The celebration of Advent is possible only
to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect
and who look forward to greater things to come.” Whilst there’s a lot of
truth in that it is a bit too solemn for what I was seeking, maybe I’ll return
to that at a later date; it probably explains why some people regard Advent as
a time for fasting.
As is so
often the solution to a problem these days I turned to Google. The definition
there was “the Advent of something means
that it is finally here – a term generally used for the introduction of
something important.” I have to admit I’d always thought Advent meant
something is about to come, not here already. It’s customary to think of Jesus
about to be born in Bethlehem, although we know it happened 2000 years ago, and
also to think about his “coming again”, a concept of God’s final kingdom of
peace and joy. These thoughts are reflected in the lectionary readings in
Advent.
However,
Google’s definition draws attention to the fact that there’s more to Advent
than those two “looking forwards”. It emphasises the fact that something really
important has already happened. God, in Jesus, has experienced the problems of
living on earth, and by his spirit – God is with us, here and now – with all
the problems of the pandemic have we forgotten that?
The word Emmanuel, meaning God is with us, was
used by the people of God in both Old and New testaments – so why do we sing “O
come O come Emmanuel” – maybe we should sing hello Emmanuel!
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