It's Advent!

Advent has arrived! Four Sundays to prepare for Christmas. A kind of religious reminder that reminds us that we have fours Sundays to reconnect with family and friends: write and send Christmas letters/cards/emails; organise a gathering of friends or family; buy presents; prepare feasts; sing carols and be joyful. Three weeks to endure the madness and chaos. Three weeks to look away from the madness that seems to be engulfing our world.

So why do we begin with two reflections on the end of all that gave meaning and hope in life: Jeremiah 33 written at the time of the destruction of the first temple and The Exile, and Luke’s version (21:25-26) of Mark 13 written after the destruction of the second temple and the forced diaspora. Not so cheery. The madness is placed front and centre.

Maybe Advent is not about preparing for Christmas. Maybe it is a reminder to pay attention to the birth of God’s peace, hope, joy and love at Christmas in our madness. In a world falling apart because of the selfish activities of humanity, we are reminded of God’s deep and eternal faithfulness to us, to all people and this world. I wonder what that means for us as we prepare to celebrate this Christmas?