Photo Credit: Marcus Spiske Unsplash.com
We have just decorated our Christmas tree and we are feeling very “Christmassy”. This morning our children awoke to find their boots filled with sweets. It’s St Nicholas day and despite not living on continental Europe or having ever taught our children about “Father Christmas” they like to make the most of every tradition when sweets are involved! We love all the traditions and love being part of a church community where we have loads of different types of services and ways of celebrating the season. This year we have a massive Advent Calendar Window with activities to focus our minds on the season.
But there is a problem. December is a dreadfully hard month for anyone who is hurting. The pain of the bereaved and the lonely intensifies as they witness all the “happy” people on social media, on Christmas adverts and amongst people that they know. Of course people are not really quite as happy as they seem and life is never that perfect, but it is hard to remember that when you are lonely and in pain. This is why it is so important to have running alongside all the Christmas festivities another theme – advent hope.
The great advent hope for Christians is that one day the pain, heartache and injustices of this world will be put right. The advent hope is a firm belief and longing for Jesus to return as king and judge. Christians believe that when Jesus comes again death and bereavement will finally vanish. As Jesus comes to earth he sets things right and deals with injustices and cruelties but he also brings the fullness of the joy, peace and love of heaven to earth. There are many pictures of this advent hope. The one from today’s Church of England communion service is one of the wait being over and God living with his people and there being a great celebration with the best food and drink in a place of safety, security and joy. (See Isaiah 25:6-9)
If you are feeling low while everyone else appears to be happy, as you get to know Jesus more, the advent hope and joy can even begin to enter your life now as you have a taste of heavens love, joy and peace even in the midst of your pain. Even in pain, many find that reaching out to show kindness to others helps ease the pain, even if it is just a little. If you are feeling ok or even good at the moment, why not seek to bring a bit of the goodness of heaven into people’s lives now as you show them kindness, love, compassion and goodness.
Happy Advent!
Richard Heard 