Roger Hutchison, Advent. Photo on Episcopal Church & Visual Arts.
A million thanks to Mompriest for this gorgeous beginning prompt at RevGals:
Entering the Advent journey is an invitation to travel, intentionally, into the wilderness – the dark night of the soul. One hopes that the Church guides this journey offering opportunities to pray, ponder, stirred up, conflicted. John, the desert prophet, proclaims the burning chaff, the background to our Christmas shopping. Advent sings of incongruous images - new birth and end of life, the Alpha and the Omega, of oppression and freedom, of despair and ultimately of hope. The path is uneven and twisted, spiraling in to the depths of our being, certain we are lost. And then, quietly, the Spirit of God calls to us, “Awake, arise, my love, my dear one.” The early morning desert sun illuminates the way - through the valley to Jordan’s bank - our God is near. Awake and hearken, let each heart prepare a place for the Word to break in, a child to come anew, whispering peace into you and me. Come, our long expected One, come.
Within in our darkest night
A starless chill
Shudders
Calling, “Emmanuel
Where
Oh where, are you?”
Within our deepest soul
Astounding one
Voice
Cries in the wilderness
“Prepare
the way of the Lord!”
Within our darkest night
A still small spark
Kindled
Hark! The glad sound calls out
“Sleepers
Awake!” Jerusalem
Rise up and give walk in light
prepare
from darkest night -
Arise!
Our Daystar comes, the night
Dispelled, every valley filled,
every
mountain low, the rough made
smooth
A light, a light bathes bright
Discard the garment, sorrow
afflicted.
Arise! Put on the robe
Adorned
with love and mercy
Questions to ponder:
John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace, describes our spiritual journey as a process of moving from desire for God, to conflict with God, to contemplation and peace with God. (Go here for more on this idea.) Many consider this process to be a spiral not linear. Based on these three "states" where are you in your faith journey?
I would say that I am moving out of conflict into contemplation. Not at peace yet. And definitely finding this to be a spiral process...I keep thinking I understand, only to learn that what I am trying to understand has changed. Or my understanding of it. Or me.
Does the mystery of Advent invite you into deeper reflection on your relationship with God?
It actually seems the perfect metaphor at this time. Stirred up, conflicted...with a hope of hope.
Do you have a meditation of your own you'd like to share with us today?
Thanks for asking. This is not original, but it immediately comes to mind given this retreat...
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going Nor do I really know myself, But I believe that the desire to please Therefore will I trust you always
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
And the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so.
you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all
that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this, you
will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death, I will
not fear, for you are ever with me
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
thomas merton
Do you have an Advent resources you'd like share?
My clearest memory of Advent all through my childhood was lighting the Advent wreath at the dinner table...(fussing over who would get to light the candles)...and saying the antiphon:
Our King and Savior draweth nigh
O, come let us adore him.
