Well, it’s that time of year again. According to Andy Williams, “it’s the most wonderful time of year.” Faced with the hustle and bustle that inevitably accompanies the preparation Christmas, some of you, I am sure, have some doubts about that assertion. And yet, in the church, this is a wonderful time of the year.
Our choir is busy preparing a beautiful cantata, “Night of the Father’s Love.” our children are joyfully preparing Christmas program, “Silent Mice, Holy Mice.” Our members are hanging the greens and adorning the sanctuary with festive decorations. Yes, it is a wonderful time of the year.
But in the church, this is an even more wonderful time of the years because it is Advent, and Advent is a rich and beautiful season of prayer, of being still, and receiving the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Advent begins with one lone candle, lit in hope, amidst the darkness of a greedy and uncaring world.
One of my favorite Advent traditions is the lights of the candles in the advent wreath . The days leading up to Christmas in the physical creation become darker and darker. And so in Advent we have this powerful symbolism in the created world of the darkness that is still so prevalent in the world of human interactions. The darkness has many names: war, hatred, greed, murder, depression, dishonesty, anger, violence, discouragement, self-hatred. But Advent reminds us that there is still a light that shines, no matter how dark it may become.
The prophet Isaiah proclaims “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness--on them light has shined.” (Is. 9-2) The gospel of John declares, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (Jn 1:5) The light that shines in the Advent season is the light of Jesus Christ. Even when the darkness is all around, and its seems as though it were about to overwhelm us, the light of Jesus is always here to shine on us.
One of prayers that I have used for many years on Christmas Eve contains these words:
“Lord of heavenly hosts, light candles in our souls that darkness within us may be dispelled. Let shadows be disarmed in candles’ glow; let unfaced fears of darkness yet to come be set to rest in the presence of your light. For you who sent your Son to darkened earth, who came as a helpless human child to bring us light, must know the frightening darks that threaten all our days. So, Lord of hosts, who sent loving light in simple gentle form, recall in us that wondrous act divine, and once again light candles in our souls.”
May the God of light and love shine on whatever form of darkness you are facing these days, and may this truly be for you and for yours the most wonderful time of year.
Blessings and Peace,
Ron Krueger