Isaiah 2:3 "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."
December 1st marks the first day of Advent, a time of spiritual preparation as we anticipate the coming of Christ's birth. Advent is the start of the liturgical church year in most denominations. It is a start of a journey of faith, deepening our understanding of the spirit, faith and learning to trust in in the hope of promise Christ provides.
The start of any journeys is rife with contrasts of intrepid enthusiasm as well as fear and anxiety. We desire the end result immediately, desperate and doubtful that the unseen, even if promised will not be afforded at the journey's end, all the while anxious to explore the depths and learning through trial and triumph.
The journey of faith isn't meant to be a instant omnipotent understanding of God. We have the gift of eternal life in our spirit, by God's grace, but our flesh is weak, vulnerable and mortal. Death is the end of the world's journey. We age and we die, we need that experience to truly rise above this plain of worldly existence to be reunited with God.
I am a hiker. I train for months to climb mountains. The trek is grueling, the loss of air as the altitude rises, the thirst for water and pain on the legs. Sometimes I wonder why I put myself through such grueling circumstances? Yet as I scale the mountains, panting and battling my own limitations I find the joy of life, the boundless hope and joy. It is in this journey, though at times treacherous and bleak, I learn and I grow. I anticipate with nervous inclination, while pausing to admire each vista and view up the mountain. When I reach the top, I have a new understanding, a depth that has been revealed that took trial and uncertainty, hunger and thirst to fully recognize the truth of paradise within reach.
Advent is a time where we fast and repent, seek out the spirit because in the time of contemplation we realize that we are weak and we need the sustenance of Christ, the Living Word and God to give us life. It is a realization that we might accept, but cannot truly realize until we've endured and grown in spirit through doubt and faith, pride to humility.
Jesus took on the form of life at its most vulnerable, a child, weak and helpless. God depended on his creation to sustain his life on earth, yet Christ, through fully flesh, was also fully God. It is truly remarkable how God chose to send his only son, Jesus to live in the world, teaching and enduring the suffering of the world, so that we may have eternal life.
Advent is the start of our journey to Christ, a journey that continues throughout our lives. The Trinity is timeless and full of depth, guiding us with each step into a new understanding and peace. We will falter, tripping on rocks and stumbling over hurdles, oppressed and tempted by our own strife and humanness, still we have a light eternal and loving to guide us out of the darkness. Redemption is available to those who seek it, and God the Father, Son and Spirit are always searching out the lost and the disconsolate, the desperate, meek and weak to strengthen and protect, with guiding love and grace.
Advent is a time of awakening. The lighting of the first advent candle, like the first star of night, might be dim, compared to the darkness, yet God doesn't always come with fireworks and stampedes, he uses the humble and sparking good in the wicked, the faithful and the doubtful to accomplish his goal of love and compassion, hope and peace. Even a flicker of light can be seen in the darkness, it can start a fire that can sustain faith.
Christ is born not in the throes of security, but the insecurity of the world, yet his light still shines, it calls on all the world to rejoice and to hope in life out of death, strength our of weakness, humility and peace.
Let Advent kindle your hearts on this journey, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you in faith, even if the journey is unsure, trust in the power and sure foundation of God, Father and the son, Jesus Christ, born in the lowliest of circumstances, to rise like a star that pierces the darkest of night.
Over the course of Advent, as we prepare for the arrival of Christ's birth at Christmas, I will be posting articles and devotionals to chronicle my journey and hopefully assist my readers in their own path of preparation.
Starting a journey...you need to plan a course, the destination is Christ and the celebration of his birth. In the journey you can have itineraries and timelines, but also flexibility to allow the Holy Spirit to work through you.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Lessons - part of growth is learning by studying - in this case taking time to study scripture.
I recommend taking ten minutes a day to reflect on scripture and use a devotional/Advent Calendar. Many are available online for free. I have found the following links to be helpful (I'll continue to post additional links). Follow the lectionary...
http://ssje.org/word/?p=6489
http://www.fresno.edu/adventdevotions
http://www.d365.org/followingthestar/
http://christianity.about.com/od/christmas/tp/allaboutadvent.htm
(I will post additional sites in the next few days)
-Keep an Advent journal, making notes about your faith and doubt, prayers and what you are grateful for in this season.
-Outreach, take the lessons of love and compassion and be a light in this world. Help bring light to those in dark places - volunteer at a soup kitchen, counsel to those in need (at church, neighbors, strangers, anyone in need), be friendly with passing along cheer or buying someone coffee. I feel so lonely in Bozeman. People at my church often don't say hello and I've been attending the parish four years. Introduce yourself to members at your parish. Invite neighbors over for dinner, donate to the Salvation Army...use your talents and what you are passionate about to help people.
Light the world, through Christ, be his candles on earth, allowing HIM and the spirit to work through you!
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