Advent is here. And I’ve got to admit that I am already over the doomsday or apocalyptic readings and dire warnings of judgment. Its not that I don’t believe in judgment, or that Jesus has a right to make such judgment… but I am truly sick of the fire and brimstone stuff in our daily readings. Personally I have a desire to rejoice in preparations for the birth of the King! I want to embrace the hope and wonder of His coming into the world and I want to share it with others.

J. Mary Luti, retired seminary professor and United Church of Christ pastor writing (as a preachr herself) at her blog, Sicut Loutus Est  says that she suffers “an uneasy sense that we forget ourselves and the gospel when we routinely rant about the consumerist society in which we live, and by implication, deride and condemn everyone who participates in pre-Christmas ceremonies of buying and selling. I’m simply getting tired of listening to sermons in Advent that draw a sharp line between the bad world of getting and spending which barely acknowledges or even notices the reason for the season, and another good world in which none of that goes on and into which Jesus can be born properly, cleanly, to the sound of angels singing, not cash registers ringing… … And why, at precisely the season when people are paying attention to the Story of a savior, of God’s love, of peace and justice and love—when secular people are paying attention, in their Hallmark, Santa Claus kind of way; not the way we might want them to, not necessarily in a churchy sort of way; but paying attention to the Story nonetheless, and with hearts softened towards it too—are we deriding them just for being people with great (if misdirected) desires, and driving them away with our anti-world rants?”

So, this Advent, instead of shaking our collective Christian heads and complaining about the “Santa’s” and the madness of gift buying and the crowds, can we rejoice that there is still the opportunity for wonder and a longing for hope that is exactly the reason that God did not abandon us, but chose, instead to enter the fleshy world which we inhabit… seeking to find a place to abide, not in a stable but in our hearts? Alleluia and Amen.

Love and Blessings

Reverend Shan