MONDAY OF ADVENT 3

I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have,
so that no one may seize your crown.

REVELATION 3:11

We are exactly seven days away from Christmas!

And even though the verse I quoted above has nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas, it was the closest quote I could find that would lead to what I want to share today.

The verse is a word of caution, but also, motivation.

The book of Revelation, which was written to encourage the early Christians, has many such phrases interspersed throughout. Today’s reading begins in a similar tone:

I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Revelation 3:8

The “open door” symbolizes opportunities and blessings that are available to those who remain steadfast in their beliefs, even when faced with difficulties.

Every time I engage in this exercise of writing public daily reflections – which I have now done several times, usually during Advent or Lent – I am gripped with apprehension. I question whether I’ll be able to fulfill the commitment to write each day, or whether I can maintain a consistent flow of thoughts or a theme that weaves my ideas together.  

My wife reminded me, as a way of encouragement, that this is a short Advent – only twenty-one days, well…actually twenty-two, if you want to get technical about it.

The other motivation comes from WordPress itself, which sends me a reminder each day I post telling me the extent of my consecutive streak.

But the biggest boost I get is from you, the readers.

In addition to publishing on WordPress, I also share my post on Facebook. I make the post public, so it extends beyond my intimate circle of 25-hundred-plus “friends” (you all know who you are!).

It’s gratifying to receive the daily data that tells me how many have viewed that particular day’s post. I’m not so much pleased by the numbers themselves, but by knowing that you all are reading what I have to write and that it may be touching some of you in some way.

Though I selfishly confess that I write mainly for myself, I put a lot of time and energy into creating a cohesive and coherent piece of work that will benefit whoever takes the time to read it and not leave them feeling that they’ve just wasted their time.

Having made that admission, you may be asking yourself why I go to all this effort.

And my answer is: because it strengthens my faith.

Developing any habit, whether reading, writing, dieting, exercise, or simply developing a routine, is challenging. It was so for the Israelites, the early Christians, as well as for us. But it has its benefits.

The late Marcus Borg, in his book, The Heart of Christianity: Recovering a Life of Faith[1], devoted a chapter to the purpose of practice in the Christian life.

Being a person who loves ritual and routine, I was drawn to his list of five purposes of practices in the Christian life (p. 189):

• Paying attention to God
• The formation of Christian identity and character
• Nourishment
• Compassion and justice
• Living “the way.”

I found his support for nourishment most compelling.  

“Practice is not simply something we do. Rather, it nourishes us. This happens in collective Christian practices such as worship as well as individual devotional practices…We are fed by practice…Even as practice is about paying attention to God, it also nourishes and nurtures us…Practice is a sacrament of the sacred.” (pp. 192-193)

Borg, (pp. 192-193)

The season of Advent marks the beginning of the Church’s calendar.

As with the other liturgical seasons of the church, Advent opens to us opportunities to begin, or resume, practices that strengthen our faith, and deepen our relationship with God.

May my words provide a sense of support as you contemplate beginning this blessed journey.   

My closing prayer will be the verse with which we begin our daily morning prayer.

Let us pray:
Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Amen.*

*Source: Book of Common Prayer, p. 80

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[1] Borg, Marcus J. The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith (New York: HarperOne, 2003)