Today is the first Sunday in Advent. We attended a choral Evensong service earlier tonight and I found it both interesting and a little challenging. It was dark and cold as we entered the church. The processional music was an improvisation. The liturgy began with a confession. The scripture readings were on the tough-minded side. We were asked to chant some of the sections, incuding the Lord's Prayer (if I recall correctly). Overall, the music was challenging, but not soothing. What gives?
Since it was Evensong, we had no sermon. Seeking guidance, I thought to check with the good Rev. Donald Sensing and found this from a while ago:
Surprisingly, the point of Advent is not Christmas. It is expectation, hope and preparation for the coming of Christ. The celebration of Christ’s birth comes during the Christmas season, which begins, as you might expect, on Christmas day.The Scripture for the first Sunday of each Advent season always looks forward to the return of Christ. The Advent season, celebrating Christ’s incarnation, is always begun with passages to remind us that the reign of God over human affairs is ultimate and for all time. Advent thus does not celebrate only Christmas, Christ’s first coming among us. It also looks ahead to the completion of God’s redemptive acts in the coming again of Christ in judgment. Advent’s first question is quite properly, “Are you ready for Christ?” rather than “Are you ready for Christmas?”
Yet the coming of Jesus in the manger and Christ’s coming again in judgment are not so very different. The world of two thousand years ago was one of business as usual. After all, Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem in the first place because their taxes had been raised. There sure isn’t anything unusual about that!
The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was an act of God’s judgment on the world. No savior would have been born if the world had no need for a savior. When we celebrate Christmas we are celebrating the judgment of God on each of us. To visit the manger is both to be "indicted and invited" - indicted by God for our fallen world but invited by God to be reconciled.
Hence, the passages for first Sunday of Advent always emphasize to some degree the judgment of God, because the coming of a savior into the world is proof that the world needs saving. We who are being rescued from sin and death are under prior judgment as being in danger.
What to think about it?
Even in the darkest hours of human history, God is mighty to save. The promises of God are true and the word of the Lord stands forever. This is not to say that all will be sweetness and light for Christian people; Jesus never promised that – quite the opposite in fact. It is to say that even violent times and uncertain hours, we are still expected to live according to Christ’s example and commands. We are not to put our ultimate trust in any power or principality of this world – not the government, not the United Nations, not one political party or the other, nor even in the Church itself. Our ultimate trust can only be in the Lord. It is Christ, wrote the apostle Paul, who will strengthen us to the end, so that we may be blameless at the end, whenever that comes.Thus, to keep awake, as Christ admonishes, is more than simply being alert. It is to stay the course of discipleship, to be bold in our faith rather than cower in uncertainty.
Indeed. We each do our best, with God's help.
Posted by Alan at November 30, 2008 10:06 PM