Yearning for Advent

Common words for the season of Christmas are prepare, hope, and anticipation. Intertwined with the story of the promised Christ child are added themes of fullness of time, expectation, and the promise of new life. These are good words and themes. I enjoy Christmas songs, lighted trees, snow, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire (though honestly not a big fan of eating the roasted chestnuts). But there are days in every Christmas season—and some Christmas seasons more than others—when I deeply need the songs and prayers of Advent.

Advent language is filled with longing for God to be made known in places and spaces that feel forgotten. The songs often carry the minor key of lament for ourselves and others who find Christmas cheer far away. I am aware of how this season carries beauty for what we have received through Christ’s incarnational love. I do want to sing out, “Joy to the World!” I am grateful for the much that is good in my life and the gifts of grace received. I am also aware of loss in this season and of the places and spaces in my life and the world that I wish were different. The prayerful longing of the song

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” also feels so good and right to sing:

“O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

Advent invites us to go deeper than the sentimental. Advent reminds us that good news of Christmas is for all people, not just those with houses filled with laughter and presents for everyone. Attention to Advent helps us receive the depth of the Christmas good news that speaks light into the shadows of our lives.

We often see paintings of Mary and the angel Gabriel (the annunciation) that seem sweet, calm and full of light. But perhaps the depiction should show more of what Scripture describes. For in response to Gabriel’s “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you,” Mary was “greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.”1 While I have seen a few paintings where Mary looks surprised and shocked, I have not seen a painting depicting Mary as greatly troubled.

When Christmas feels distant or unreachable, Advent is a promise to any who are “deeply troubled” that we are also favored ones, for the Lord is with us. Whether we wake up singing or moaning, rejoicing or grieving, the message is the same—you are a favored one, for the Lord is with you.

Advent is this promise of God-with-us, Immanuel. However hard it may be to believe that a longed-for reality will take hold, this new kingdom of justice, reconciliation, mercy, and peace will be fulfilled someday, a place without sickness or tears is our future.

As we sing Advent songs inviting Christ to come once again into our lives and world, as we pray Advent prayers naming all the present realities where we know God’s light is needed to shine, may we practice enough stillness to see the signs of God-with-us. We may be deeply troubled like Mary, but we can also receive the promise of Gabriel’s exclamation, “The Lord is with you” in a hospice room, a family gathering where a chair is empty, or in the midst of a hard conversation—each place and space in which the yearning for God’s kingdom is strong. Then, with strong or weak voices, we can together join the Christmas Day song of “Joy to the World.”

Dr. Mary Rearick Paul, D.Min, is a minister and Vice President of Student Life and Formation at Point Loma Nazarene University.

1 Luke 1:28-29 (NIV)