My Advent Wish for You

During the pandemic, people put up their Christmas decorations early, and left the lights up longer. The world seemed so dark. We longed for the light to dispel the darkness. 

There was something more than the longing for light, though. Perhaps it was a longing for hope? 

"Cultural rituals are important to people because they're stable and positive and normalizing. And rituals are things that outlive our mortality, they outlive the sickness and death of COVID-19." Steven Taylor, UBC psychiatry professor. 

The pandemic may have faded, but now we are facing wars across the world, as world superpowers, enemies of the west, flex their muscles, and invade neighbours. Democracy seems threatened on every front, real and imaginary. Our beloved neighbours to the south are fearful of each other and seemingly beginning to threaten normalcy here. 

The world still seems very dark, in so many ways, and yet, as Christians, we celebrate, with bated breath, the coming of the Christ child. At the same time, we wait in everlasting hope for him to come again. 

Within that waiting for the light…the Christ light…in the dark, the Holy Spirit will wait with us, I'm convinced of it.  For even in the darkness, in the waiting, He is never far away from those who cry out for him…even as he cries out for us. 

What is my wish for you this Advent?  That you hear his cry, that you accept his call, and feel the height and depth and breadth of his love for you. May your faith be strengthened and the darkness dispelled with light.  Even in the waiting.

Isaiah 

The people who walked in darkness

    have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

    on them has light shone. (9:2)

Luke

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

 to give knowledge of salvation to his people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

 because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

  to guide our feet into the way of peace. (1:76 - 79)

On Sunday, we are blessed to have the Reverends Paul Beckingham and Donna Dinsmore begin the hopeful Christian Story again. We will also be Gathering at the Lord's Table…a triple header!  I hope you can join us. 

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