“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.”
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer

As I’ve said on these pages previously, no one likes to wait. Nevertheless, we’re in a season of waiting–the season of Advent. The word implies a coming into existence. We capitalize it to signify the coming of the Christ Child–this year, something we began celebrating November 30th, even though it actually occurred over two thousand years ago.

Each year, for about four weeks, we celebrate, we party, and we worship as we wait in hopeful anticipation of Christmas, the day we mark the incarnation of God as Jesus, or Immanuel–“God with us.”

Millenia ago, the Jews were waiting on the coming of their savior. Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah foretold of that event, word spread, and the news was handed down from generation to generation. The Jews thought a mighty warrior would come into the world and conquer all those who would disparage, imprison, and kill God’s chosen people. Who could have blamed them?

What happened? That mighty conqueror entered the world as an innocent and vulnerable newborn, delivered to a single teen in a nondescript location in the podunk town of Bethlehem. His parents, Joseph and Mary, were citizens of Nazareth, a town to which they would eventually return with their child. “Could anything good come from Nazareth?”, the eventual disciple Nathaniel would later ask.

Well, to answer Nathaniel: A lot of good. In fact, a goodness unsurpassed by any human being before his time, or ever to come. A goodness who taught forgiveness, acceptance, non-judgment, compassion, and love. Jesus’ message and his actions were different from anything previously heard or witnessed. He walked the walk that he talked.

And what was his fate? The very people who had waited centuries for his arrival rejected him, humiliated him, persecuted him, and ultimately killed him . . . and then he forgave them. Could we bring ourselves to that level of forgiveness? It’s not a rhetorical question; it’s what Christ challenges us to do.

This Christmas, don’t let the glitter, glamour, goodies, and gifts obscure the fact that the Christ Child came into a dark world and ushered in the light of salvation. After the presents are opened this week and then the bills come due in January, try to keep that Christmas spirit, because God is still with us. Immanuel. The light of the world. And that gives us hope as we continue to wait. That’s right–we’re still waiting!

We’re waiting on the promise of his second coming. An entry into this world that won’t go unnoticed like the first did, save for a handful of shepherds and magi and a stable full of barn animals. Until then, we’ll continue to acknowledge his significance throughout the year, but especially on the anniversary of his birth.

So, enjoy the birthday celebration, and keep waiting. But for now, may you and those you love and cherish enjoy a season replete with wonder, comfort, and joy!