Our Advent wreath is adorned with four new pink and purple candles representing hope, peace, joy, love and the central white Christ candle. Each ready to be lit in turn, a reminder that the journey through Advent continues.
Today we light the first purple candle representing hope. Hope is part of being human, each of us will be hoping for different things depending on personal circumstances. Hope is what keeps us going. I like to think of Advent hope as a bit like the star shining in the darkness, leading the magi onwards.
Today’s lectionary reading paints a metaphorical picture of suffering and hardship (Mark 13: 24-37). A time full of darkness and catastrophe. A time when it seems like the world is ending. As I read the text, I could not help but think of the images coming out of Israel, Gaza and Ukraine — so much destruction. For those on the ground it must feel like they are living this text.
I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like to live amid a war.
I can’t imagine what it must feel like to have family and friends remaining in those war zones.
I can’t imagine what it must feel like to have had loved ones killed in the fighting.
Our hope and prayers are for an end to the violence with peace prevailing.
The text does offer the hope of better things to come. The passage uses the illustration of the fig tree putting forth shoots offering the anticipation of summer after the cold (28). The fig tree has used the time of preparation well.
With the offer of hope in this extended metaphor, comes the message to keep awake. Of course, as with the rest of this passage this cannot be taken literally, human beings are created to need sleep for restoration and rejuvenation. But those two words —keep awake — capture the meaning of Advent. Watching and waiting, encompassing the dual themes of waiting for the birth of the Christ child and watching in hope for the future.
Watching and waiting have a quietness about them — a sense of peace yet with an increasing anticipation. I hope this Advent will be a rich and meaningful time for each person reading this. I hope the time of preparation will be well spent. It has a very Celtic feel about it, the year in the Northern Hemisphere beginning in the cold, hidden, underground waiting for the time to burst forth. The beginning of the cycle of life.
I hope for each of you this Advent will take on a new, deeper meaning as you journey through these next four weeks.
(Photo — landing in Kennedy airport, December 2023)
