“O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!”
The Advent Season is a time of holy expectation, a time to follow the star of holy curiosity toward the simple glory of everyday life – a baby born in a barn, doves cooing from rafters, poor shepherds in awe. So our task is to find this awe in our everyday lives…to seek the radiance of God in shopping carts, dishes to be washed and recycling to be taken out. Let us also look up toward the stars, and to realize the great mystery and wonder of this life. We are stardust, part of God’s wondrous creation, and connected to God’s holy way. Let us welcome in our Savior in the form of neighbors, family around a table, students and church folk. The astounding message we receive in this season is this: God is here!
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I am reading a book by John Dominic Crossan, biblical scholar and Irish former-monk, who speaks of Jesus’ message that the Kingdom of God is not way off in heaven, or in some far distant future in the great ‘by and by’. It is breaking into our world now. It is already here. Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Jesus enters into our world as a defenseless child. Jesus also said that when two or three are gathered in his name, then he is present. Jesus is present when we share with each other, when we worship, when we offer healing and hope to those who are struggling. The Kingdom is within the ‘beloved community’, the community that embodies God’s love and harmony. Jesus prays, “Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.”
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So this Advent, let’s not only look up to the stars for God’s coming, or 2,000 years ago in a stable in Bethlehem. Let’s also look into each other’s eyes, into the eyes of those who are hungry and hurting, into the hearts of those who are grieving and in despair, and offer the brilliant hope that was born in our Savior. The star is rising!
See you in church!
Rev. Rusty
