This may come as a huge shock to… well, absolutely nobody! But I love this season of Advent. There are all kinds of reasons for this and over the years I have blogged during Advent I have mentioned many of these reasons time and again.
I suspect that
part of it, though, is my personality. I enjoy anticipating things, and can
sometimes get as much (or even more) enjoyment out of anticipation than out
of the anticipated event itself!
But my personality oddities are not really what my blog is all about!
I also appreciate the way in which the bible readings and the themes of this Season cause us to focus on things we might otherwise avoid; the mystery of ‘unanswered prayer’, waiting and patience, suffering and darkness, and – of course – the Second Coming of the Lord (however, we understand that).
In other words, if we use this season to focus not simply on the fact that Christ came as the Babe of Bethlehem, Child in a Manger, but also on his still awaited return then we will have to think through some aspects of our faith and theology that we might otherwise be tempted to skirt around.
He came, but he will also come. Christ’s coming is past and is future.
I was struck anew by the words of one of the Advent collects; ‘…inspire the ministers and stewards of your truth to turn our disobedient hearts to you, that when Christ shall come again to be our judge we may stand with confidence before his glory…’.
But then that started me thinking that it is not just about past and future. It is about present too.
He came, he will come and he comes in the present too.
If I fail to discern and discover his coming in the present, if I do not hear or heed his coming each and every day, if I cannot recognise or receive him in the present, then will I really be ready to greet his eventual return or ‘stand with confidence before his glory’?
No comments:
Post a Comment