Advent

Make ready for the Christ,
whose smile – like lightning –
sets free the song of everlasting glory
that now sleeps, in your paper flesh
– like dynamite.

Thomas Merton


Years ago I had the opportunity to be introduced to an Orthodox church as part of a retreat field-trip. The icons of John the Baptist and Mary Theotokos struck me. Looking from the sanctuary, these icons were on each side of the chancel area, while above the altar table was an icon of Jesus crucified. The three icons formed a triptych.

How appropriate for Advent to find ourselves living between the images of John the Baptist, and Mary Theotokos. On the one hand, John the Baptist reminds us of the prophetic tradition out of which Jesus arises. It is a tradition concerned with the orphan, the widow and the sojourner, and siding with the oppressed, the forsaken, and the ignored. I see John the Baptist inviting us to live our faith in the flesh and bones of present reality, not only in our theory and belief, but also in praxis.

And then we have Mary Theotokos, Mary the God-bearer. Mary who also calls forth a world in which present realities are turned upside down, the poor walking away filled, while the rich walk away empty. She reminds me of the ways in which I, too, am called to carry the image of God into the world.

What does this mean for us? Are we, too, to wear camel skins and eat wild honey and locusts? I’m not sure that necessarily fits our context. But how do we live in a way that is different, that is just, that recognizes the divine spark in us, and in our neighbor that comes from being created in the Divine Image? Perhaps part of the answer comes from striving to move more and more to living in ways that are sustainable, not only for ourselves, our communities, but also for the world around us.

May the end of your Advent be filled with expectation of the Coming Christ, as well as ponderings of how to live out the present reality of the kingdom/kin-dom.

Peace –

Joel