I can feel expectation! It is in the air. It manifests as a sort of
excitement, preparation and hope.
The squirrels feel it. From our daily practice of starting the day in
the hot tub Andy and I watch them scurrying up and down trees carrying pine
cones. We watched one little one yesterday with a pine cone in its mouth racing
at the picket fence. We expected it to crash as there was no way it would get
through, yet without hesitation the little creature turned its head sideways,
went through the fence and continued, hopefully, to build a good supply of food
to get through the cold weeks.
Then as we walk the pugs in the evening the darkness is broken by the
full moon, the twinkling stars and myriads of coloured lights adorning houses
and gardens. Light is shining through the darkness. We talk about how lovely
they look. Somehow it seems that this year there has been more lights, even
earlier than usual, it feels part of the expectation that is in the air.
It is not surprising then that today, the first Sunday of Advent is celebrated.
The season of Advent, is full of expectation, preparation and hope. The first candle
in the Advent wreath is lit, a purple one that represents hope.
It is with hope in our hearts that the four-week journey to Christmas is
begun. It is a time for preparation. It is a time to be full of expectation. The
lectionary today is apocalyptic writing (Mark 13: 24-37). I think it is a
mistake to take this sort of writing and look for detail, or try and impose a
timeline on it or, even, look for disasters that point to the end of the world.
I would add as an aside here that I have read interpretations that say
that apocalyptic texts in this gospel point to the crucifixion and passion week.
There is an interesting play on words here with cockcrow, dawn, sun going dark,
etc. (see Mark 15:33 for example). Certainly, would be worth pursuing but not
for today.
Today, I want to remain with the air of expectation, preparation and hope.
I want to savour the season. I want to enjoy the moment.
Yet, it must be tinged with a little realism. Christmas time has over
the last few centuries been hyped up into an art. Paintings, Christmas cards,
tableaus and TV commercials often portray the ideal Christmas. Families
together, overflowing tables and an abundance of gifts around a brightly lit
tree. This depiction falls far short of
the realistic situation for many people.
There is an increase in reported domestic violence (https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/welfare/2015/12/it-s-hardest-time-year-why-domestic-violence-spikes-over-christmas),
children go even hungrier (https://www.npr.org/2013/01/03/168543174/for-many-kids-winter-break-means-hungry-holidays)
and think of the turkeys, 300 million are killed most of them after living
short lives in unspeakable conditions (https://www.peta.org/living/food/turkey-factory-farm-slaughter/).
In our home, as foster parents, we have had many children who have only
dreaded Christmas. There have been no presents, not much food and a lot of
fear. Therefore, in my excitement, my expectation, my hope, I cannot ignore the
plight of others. I need to hold these things in tension.
The message of the lectionary text is to be aware, as it is phrased to “keep
awake” (37). It is the message of advent, part of the expectation, part of the preparation
and part of the hope. This advent I want to live in the moment, I want to be
filled with great expectation and hope yet I want to be awake to those around
me. To notice their lives, maybe in some small way to bring a glimmer of light
into their darkness.
“May God’s goodness be ours
this day.
And well and seven times well
May we spend our lives.”
(Way of Living, 55)
(Way of Living, 55)
Photo: The little red squirrel in our garden earlier in the year.
