Advent Reflection

A Reflection, for Advent, on Isaiah 2.1-5 and Matthew 24.36-44

In Advent, our focus is on time - but not chronological time, rather “kairos” time, in this sense of “significant season” or “propitious” time. Advent, and its wreath, is not simply a “countdown to Christmas”! The original focus of Advent was the future, the "second coming". As Anglicans, we sort of acknowledge that possibility, but we don't make a great deal of it. Possibly, because we shy away from the wild and bizarre interpretations we sometimes hear. But the underlying meaning of the concept is, not a literal physical "return" of Jesus to the earth. Rather, “the return of Christ" is symbolic language for the hope that God's reign, the Creator's purposes (of peace, justice, well-being for all, care for the earth), will, in the end, reign supreme.

Isaiah of Jerusalem expresses hope for the coming of God's reign. Hope that his people will see what time it is, what the “season” is: that the days are coming when "the mountain of the Lord's house (read: the reign of God's peace) will be established" ..."for out of Zion shall go forth instruction (that is Torah, or: "teachings").

And, it is still our hope ~ that the peoples of the earth will wake up, and see, what time it is. It is time to stop using all this energy and resources for swords and spears, and use our energy and resources for ploughshares and pruning hooks; not for killing and destruction, but for feeding and nourishing.
"... neither shall they learn war any more." Isaiah's words are carved into a wall of the United Nations buildings. Those words have not yet been fulfilled. But, they remain a vision, that calls us to walk in the light of peace and justice. Surely, it is time!

In the Gospel reading, Jesus is also speaking about being aware of what the time is. He speaks about what we call the "second coming". And he says that no one, not even the angels, not even the Son, knows when that will be. Despite the strange interpretations, and precise predictions, that we may occasionally hear, no one knows, or ever can know, when the Lord will return, when the "end" will be.

However, not knowing is not an excuse to be lulled into a false security. Jesus gives the example of the people of Noah's time. They were busy “eating, and drinking, and marrying”. There is nothing wrong with the people doing those things; it is just that they were not awake. They were assuming everything was, and would be, business-as-usual. And could, and would, always continue, world-without-end, amen. Noah, however, did not wait [like our Prime Minister], until “all countries were on board”! He knew when it was “time”. The others “knew nothing”. Likewise the householder, in the third little story, who was not alert to the thief. That is the point of these stories: Be aware! Be alert! Be ready!

Now. Let's move our thinking out of the future, away from the hypothetical. Let’s understand Jesus as speaking, not about
encountering God at the "end of the world", but now, in our time, in my reality. Let's hear his words as calling us, now, to be aware, that we may be in for a surprise or two; that not all will always be business-as usual. Let's hear him alerting us, that at an un-expected time, there may come into all our lives, from time to time, an un-expected encounter with God. Something that profoundly tests us, that will "judge" or "evaluate" us. It then becomes a propitious time.

Imagine something that really wakes us up, and makes us:
- be aware of, and question, what our priorities really are;
- makes us question, what our values really are;
- makes us be aware, of what we actually are doing; are thinking; are believing.

Sometimes this can be something major. For example, sudden bad news, a serious illness, a crisis in a relationship.
~ we are forced to face some very important, maybe disturbing, questions (probably questions we were avoiding).
~ some changes must be made. Maybe some big changes; maybe some quiet little ones.

On the other hand, what wakes up can sometimes be something quite ordinary. Just for a little example, imagine being in the mall, frantically shopping for Christmas, suddenly, stopping, and asking: - do I really want to do this?; - just who is it I am trying to please?; - is this actually how I want to spend Christmas?; - is this, in fact, how I want to live?

And, if we don’t push the questions away, some changes must be made. Maybe some quiet little changes; maybe some big ones. Another little example: what if I decide I am NOT doing Christmas dinner this year !! - is that a big, or little, change?

Advent is an invitation, to wake up from our numbed existence, our tame expectations, and consider life anew.
Advent calls us to keep alive our hope, for justice, well-being for all, a cared-for earth.
And, especially, Advent warns us, to keep awake, for the coming of the Lord, to be ready, for an unexpected intrusion of God.