Advent 1 -- Light Bearers

Here we are at the First Sunday of Advent. We begin a time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Christ in our world at Christmas. Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, the light that shines in the darkness but the darkness did not and cannot overcome. First Sunday of Advent we light the candle of hope.

But it seems as if we have been waiting for a long, long time. It seems as if we have been waiting forever. As we begin this time for liturgical and spiritual waiting that is Advent, my mind goes to people waiting outside the police office at Ferguson – and faced with disappointment yet again.

We have been reminded this week of the darkness that still surrounds us. We have felt the weight of it and of the brokenness of our world. We have been all too aware of our flawed humanity and flawed human systems; we’ve struggled with “juries, and justice, and judgment.” We’ve watched children crucified on crosses of fear and ignorance, not just in Ferguson, and seen anger and bitterness and confusion flowing out into the streets. The darkness closes in on us. Where is the hope?

We need the hope of Advent; the hope that, as long ago, light will break through the darkness. But the lesson of the Gospel is that if we want that light to be born in our world, we must be the lightbearers now. With the help of God, we make it possible. Christ has no hands but ours in this world.

And so, in this time of Advent waiting and preparation – let us prepare by looking for the light, already shining in the darkness around us. Even in Ferguson. In the midst of stories of vandalism and pain, there are also stories of courage and hope. Like the Ferguson library, that remained open when other institutions closed, and welcomed all who needed what they could provide. http://www.salon.com/2014/11/25/the_ferguson_library_gives_a_lesson_in_community/ Like the people who have been working in Ferguson and elsewhere to bridge the divide between the community and the police, between white and black, on the streets the night the grand jury’s decision was released. There are many stories on that – if you look: Like the child at a demonstration in Portland with a “Free Hugs” sign, and the police officer who hugged him. http://www.oregonlive.com/multimedia/index.ssf/2014/11/photo_police_officer_and_citiz.html The darkness seems to suck up all our attention, and fill us with hopelessness. But Advent calls us instead to look for the light, that is illuminating the way, preparing a path for our God. It is the light of hope. And these are lightbearers.

           And that light is given to us all – a candle against the darkness, perhaps. But each of us, holding our one candle, can illuminate a way forward. This Advent, let us recommit to the work of hope; recommit to shining our light, and shining a mirror to receive and reflect the light of others. Light received – light given. Hope renewed. And as each new candle is lit – the light grows. Light – the darkness cannot overcome.