Join in

The Advent Path begins with the description of chaotic darkness. In this first week we are surrounded each day with reminders of the scope of brokenness, pain and injustice that existed (and continues to exist) wherever the people have turned their minds and hearts from God.

Psalm 79 and Revelation 18 take us to places that are both real and surreal. The visible suffering is an expression of spiritual darkness and evil that is breaking into the world and dictating society's behavior. That behavior reflects values, priorities, and the "gods" that are worshipped. We can relate to the images of war...because we are in the midst of one. With even a casual scan of newspaper headlines or the "attention grabbers" on the internet, we are given a significant dose of the darker side of the human condition. When we begin to understand that what we see is but a minute portion of the depth and breadth of the world's darkness we open our voices and join with the psalmist in asking: How long? How long must we wait for the world to return to the wholeness and peace which you promise?

There it is again....the tension created by being Advent People. We know that God's light is shining. We know that Christ continues to be revealed in the darkness and that even the most daunting conditions in this world can not ultimately claim us. Still...there is so much that we see that is not "of God".

Truth be told, many of us are blessed with safe homes, generally good lives, and essentially adequate resources. Rather than dwell on these scripture lessons or the troubling news of the day, the temptation is to read the scriptures purely as a discipline and do whatever we can to divert our attention to more pleasant matters.

Part of Advent's process is YOUR consent to see suffering and pain...and then to participate in a prayer for ALL PEOPLE that they will move closer every day to the source of ultimate peace and justice. YOUR Advent waiting can unite you with the waiting of the world ... with the yearning of the people that has reverberated throughout time and space.

What portion of suffering do you notice today? How can you pray for its relief? Is there some action you can take...or a word you can speak in response to that prayer?