“We are an advent people. The darker and longer the nights get, the more candles we will light.”
Lighting Candles in the Dark
December 2, 2020
Advent is a season of deep imagery. So many of our visual images of this season speak to us of hope. We drape the days in evergreen, a reminder of things that survive and even thrive in the harshest of situations. As if that weren’t enough, we then drape the evergreen in lights, in a further defiance of the lengthening, darker nights.
Central to these Advent images is the Advent wreath. It is a symbol that each week, as the days get shorter, we light an increasing number of candles to balance the dynamic. In our Christian lives we are called to light those candles throughout this season. Of course this is a metaphor and we light those candles every time we see the particular needs of the season and rally against anything that causes suffering to others.
Many of us have both received and left small gifts at someone’s door. Many of us have taken the time to make an extra phone call, video chat or simply reach out with an email as a way of lighting “candles of connection“. As we begin the last month of what has been a very long year, the Church calls us into a season of creating even more light. This should always be our default response to what seems like an increase of darkness around us, but in this season we refocus on this image.
This darkness surrounds all of us. It comes in the form of an illness that is so insidious that we are called to care for one another by staying distant. Having been trained our whole life to reach out and spend close time with those in need, we are in a moment where everything is counterintuitive. And we have to find ways to reach out that are not physical.
Sometimes the darkness comes from within, creating ideas of injustice and tribalism, where we come to care less about some of God’s children than we do about others. It turns the free exchange of ideas into wars of words which inevitably escalate into more physical battles.
While many of these challenges are perennial, some are unique to this year. However, there is a deep and familiar tradition of this season, upon which we can draw: our creativity. If we think back over the years, this is often a season where we put a ton of energy into decoration, parties, new recipes and new ideas to bring people together. It is a season where we surprise one another with kindnesses and cheer. I hope those who are particularly gifted at this realize that, while last year‘s methods may not be on the table, their creativity may find amazing ways to help one another to celebrate and feel connected. And please, feel free to bring the rest of us along as you come upon new ways to connect!
So much of the news in this last month of the year is holding out great hope for 2021. And although the timeline is extended, we find ourselves in a similar position to every other Advent: The darkest nights may be ahead, but we are already seeing the promise of spring.
I chose the choir recording of “What Sweeter Music Can We Sing“ a poem by Robert Herrick set to the wonderful music of John Rutter. It is definitely a wintery song. In the second verse it talks of how such beauty “That sees December turn'd to May.” Given the schedule we’ve been told most recently for vaccinations and returning to normal, I feel like all of us are waiting for December to turn into May.
God Bless and have a wonderful season.
~ Fr. Pat
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In this same vein, as an accompanying song I went scavenging through my own archives to find a favorite piece that I used to sing fairly often. Not really a church composition, per se, it is a song by Stephen Schwartz about being open and prepared enough to recognize when something amazing comes along and being ready take a chance, make the change necessary and embrace the unimagined possibilities of a greater, joy-filled life.
I hope you are all continuing to be well and to actively and intentionally hunt the good moments and savor them when you can.
God Bless,
Fr. Pat
Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.
"What Sweeter Music"
By Robert Herrick set to the wonderful music of John Rutter
Performed by the MPB Choir
By Robert Herrick set to the wonderful music of John Rutter
Performed by the MPB Choir
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