Yes, It Is Dark

A new season of the Christian Year–a New Day?– begins this weekend with the First Day of Advent.  This mysterious season is often ignored because it’s a dark period of waiting for the light of Christmas.  The secular world has already proclaimed Christmas WITHOUT waiting:  homes in my neighborhood boast lights on their landscaping, and some have inflatable snowmen and plastic reindeer.  Black Friday and Cyber Monday attest to our basic faith that the Right Gift will ensure domestic tranquility for at least a few months…  As Santa sharpens his Claws, some of us will acknowledge a few weeks of darkness as we strain for the Light.

The writer of Isaiah 64:1-9 (prior to 515 BC) speaks of Israel’s disorientation upon returning from exile, and the attached loss of community awareness.  “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth…. There is no one who calls on your name…”  A remarkably contemporary commentary!  Out of this darkness comes a plea for forgiveness, and a reminder that “we are all [God’s] people”.  Yes, it is dark.

Paul opens his pungent Letter to the Corinthians with words of appreciation (I, 1:3-9).  He thanks God that they are “not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  In our Darkness before the Dawn, it’s right to consider existing strengths.  The Church in Corinth expected the Ultimate Advent to occur any time now:  they saw their role as one of preparation for the great and glorious day, in order that they may be blameless.  As they waited, they put candles in their windows to guide the ChristChild and to dispel the social gloom surrounding. Yes, it is dark.

Mark’s Gospel (13:24-37) is cheerless.  As the Son of Man returns to earth, both sun and moon will be snuffed.  Sailors & others who depend on the stars for guidance (astrologers, too?) will find nothing to guide them.  So “Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.”  Although centuries have elapsed, can we yet trust that there’s light beyond darkness?  Seers through the ensuing decades have announced the End of the World; although we laugh at them and their craziness, there’s a soul-shared anticipation that God is about to do a new thing.  One thing’s for sure:  yes, it is dark.

Pastor Michelle had an illuminating comment the other day:  we don’t light a candle if it’s not dark.  The Advent message then may be to acknowledge the Dark–and God’s Presence even though.

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here;                  disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.         Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
God Bless Us, Every One                         Horace Brown King

My thoughts about scripture lessons for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com