Advent is under-rated.
The hymns are not well known or popular, at least most of them.
The culture has moved on to Christmas (some since Halloween or before).
Preparation for Christmas does not mean preparation of hearts and minds much, if it ever did.
I have always believed it to be vital.
The preparation of hearts and minds to God's coming in human form is vital, especially now.
God promised to send one to deliver us.
God promised to turn things upside down, straighten the crooked and level the playing field for the lowly.
God promised to be with us.
We need to prepare our hearts and minds for that.
I am reminded that we know not the day or hour, we are reminded that this coming to us will catch us off-guard.
It will not only not come WHEN we think (December 25th being an arbitrary date at best), but it will not come in a FORM in which we will be looking - poverty, lowliness, humility and vulnerability.
So, we must be ready.
To be ready, we must be prepared.
To be prepared, we must believe and act as though we believe.
God comes to us.
This year.
In a time we will not expect.
In a form for which we will not be looking.
God comes differently now than ever before in our lives, and it is needed more now than ever before.
And it will change our lives, transform the world in which we live.
Or, we'll buy and bake, decorate and clean, cook and gather presents for a nice party.
We'll Read the Good News, Worship, Listen to Carols or Cantatas about the event, attend reenactments and think about what this means for us,
or we'll treat it like any other year of gatherings, parties and presents.
We can prepare for God's reaching into our lives here and now,
or treat it like a historic event we just remember every year.
Perhaps, this year we can prepare ourselves to be the hands and feet, the will and mouth of God
in making the rough for so many smooth, the crooked that hurts so many straight,
the lows for so many higher...
Here comes Emmanuel.
Emmanuel is comin' to town.
Why?
To relate to us AS WE ARE and bring us HOPE in who God is.
To identify with us so that we can understand God's Love and Grace.
To give Good News to the most lowly and turn things upside down toward Justice.
To make for Peace in the World and bring Joy because of it.
The Word made Flesh will arrive in your life to make you the Flesh made Word in the world.
Do you believe that Jesus is Emmanuel? Word made Flesh who dwells among us?
Are you ready to have your life changed? The world transformed? To be the Flesh made Word?
For something like THAT, we must prepare our hearts and minds!
Pastor Jamie
No comments:
Post a Comment