From Foreboding to Flowering

First Sunday of Advent

Your Redemption is Drawing Near - Luke 21:28

The advent of computers, " the advent of the technological age," "the advent of space exploration" - though it is used somewhat sparingly in everyday conversation, "advent" occasionally emerges to describe significant shifts in our human experience.

So, too, this Advent season reveals seismic activity around us and within us. It seems strange to pair the anticipation of Christ's birth and all the hope and comfort that Christmas brings with warnings of the end times.

How can we hold both in our hearts simultaneously?
One inspires songs of praise on earth, while the other fortells shouts of distress and confusion. It is possible that our understanding of "comfortable Christmas" and "frightening final judgement" both need revision?

We can grudgingly admit that the Bethlehem story is filled with less-than-peaceful events (the holy family's flight to Egypt fleeing Herod's murderous rule being the most immediate). We happily (perhaps blithely) celebrate this candle-lit birthday in the shadow of the cross. We have learned to accept these Christmas incongruities.

But how can we understand the end times as less-than-terrifying, especially when our gospel today begins and ends with such disturbing warnings? Almost lost in the mist of these fearful images, Jesus shares a startling and encouraging parable - comparing these signs of change to the budding of trees, the singing of birds, the new hope of spring: "you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near" (Luke 21:30).

This revealing link between foreboding and flowering, end of times and renewal of life - this is the good news for our season of Advent. We are not cower in our upper rooms, dreading the day of Christ's return. We are to stand up and raise our heads, because our redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28) - thanks be to God!