The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
[PSALM 24:1]
the world and all who dwell therein.
| ADVENT DAILY OFFICE READINGS |
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| AM Psalm 24, 29; PM Psalm 8, 84 Gen 3:8-15; Rev. 12:1-10; John 3:16-21 |
This is the Fourth Sunday of Advent.
We light the fourth candle on the Advent Wreath, the candle of Love.
It is also the day of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. From this day on the days will be getting longer, there will be more sunlight, which suggests brighter days ahead.
But obviously, if it is the shortest day of the year, it follows that it is also the longest night. This night has also been called the “dark night of the soul,” as traditionally described by St. John of the Cross.
For many, it’s a period of meaninglessness, despair, loneliness, and feeling lost. Some question their existence, what purpose are they serving.
Many congregations in recent years have noticed an increasing incidence of these attitudes, so more are holding what they call “Blue Christmas” services on or near this day.
In reality, every person goes through or has gone through a particular set of suffering, pain, and trauma.
No one is exempt. All people bleed. All people get hurt. All people despair.
Every person comes to God with aches and pains, trauma, illnesses, and other terrible things that they’re dealing with at any particular moment; whether it be their children and their problems, the death of a parent, spouse, child, or a friend.
Often we are overwhelmed with feelings that nobody really loves us or cares about us enough to share our grief.
And dare I mention that many policies recently enacted by our government are contributing mightily to these unsettled feelings.
Everybody aches! Everybody has a pain to bring to God.
And that pain is heightened as it gets closer to Christmas because everyone is expected to be happy and cheerful. There are some who just don’t feel it.
In many ways, Psalm 24 speaks to these painful conditions.
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world and all who dwell therein.
That opening verse serves to remind us that our lives and futures are already secure in God’s hand, that we have a hope that nobody can take away from us!
If we can see the world through the lens of God’s ever-present love, we can have the essence of spirit that enables us to experience our highest good.
And here is what’s important to keep in mind. Our God, our heavenly Father, loves us as much as any father loves his human children.
This season of Advent, as we once again await the coming of Jesus Christ, the light of the world, we are reminded again that we do not need to fear the dark.
Our problems and our fears – the troubles of the world are profound.
The light we seek is the light that was the one light present at creation.
The light we seek is the very presence of God the Father as revealed in God’s Son, Jesus.
Jesus came into the world as a light into deep darkness because God loves us too much to leave us in the dark.
I close again today with another blessing. This one is from John O’Donohue, the Irish priest, poet, philosopher, and scholar, who left this earthly life far too soon.
This is titled “A Blessing of Solitude” from his book Anam Cara.[1]
May you recognize in your life, the presence, power and light of your soul.
May you realize that you are never alone,
That your soul in its brightness and belonging
connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.
May you have respect for your own individuality and difference.
May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique,
that you have a special destiny here,
That behind the facade of your life
there is something beautiful, good, and eternal happening.
May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride,
and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.
Let us pray:
O merciful Father, you have taught us in your holy Word that you do not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men: Look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. . Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, edited p. 832)
[1] O’Donohue, John. Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1997., p. 125
Walking Together in Faith 