Advent 1: The kingdom of God is approaching!

The liturgical (meaning public worship) year in the Church begins with advent.  Advent encompasses the 4 Sundays before Christmas Eve at which time Chrismastide begins. Advent is a time of reflection and preparation as we wait.  And what are we waiting for?  As shown through our advent lectionary readings we are waiting not only for the birth of the Christ Child, Emmanuel, God with Us in the flesh ... we are waiting for the return of Christ.  Ironically we go to the end of the story in order to set the stage for the beginning.  The time is now and yet the time will be!

Icon of Second Coming. c 1700 Public Domain

Sotheby's: Icons, Russian Pictures and Works of Art. London, thursday 28th november 1991.

Let the waiting begin!  

Take a deep breath and prepare your heart to enter into the advent story ... Create a breath prayer to center your attention on the God of Advent.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables)

          Breathe in … Emmanuel (pause)      Breath out … God with Us!  (pause) 

When you feel centered on God and ready to move into the text, pray open my heart to receive your word, O God of the past, the present and the future. Amen.

Lectio (Read) the Passage.  

Take a deep breath and read the passage slowly, taking in the details as they are told by The Voice Bible.  If there is a word or phrase that captures your attention, pause on that word or phrase for a few moments before continuing.  Stay with your word or phrase as long at it feels right to do so. 

Luke 21:25-36 The Voice Bible: Step Into the Story of Scripture

There will be earth-shattering events— the heavens themselves will seem to be shaken with signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. And across the earth the outsider nations will feel powerless and terrified in the face of a roaring flood of fear and foreboding, crashing like tidal waves upon them. “ What’s happening to the world?” people will wonder. The cosmic order will be destabilized. And then, at that point, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and blazing glory. So when the troubles begin, don’t be afraid. Look up— raise your head high, because the truth is that your liberation is fast approaching. (continuing with a parable) Look over there at that fig tree— and all the trees surrounding it. When the leaves break out of their buds, nobody has to tell you that summer is approaching; it’s obvious to you. It’s the same in the larger scheme of things. When you see all these things happening, you can be confident that the kingdom of God is approaching. I’m telling you the truth: this generation will not pass from the scene before everything I’m telling you has occurred. Heaven and earth will cease to exist before My words ever fail. So be careful. Guard your hearts. They can be made heavy with moral laxity, with drunkenness, with the hassles of daily life. Then the day I’ve been telling you about might catch you unaware and trap you. Because it’s coming— nobody on earth will escape it. So you have to stay alert, praying that you’ll be able to escape the coming trials so you can stand tall in the presence of the Son of Man.

Meditatio (meditate) on the passage as you read.

Read the passage a 2nd time all the way to the end ... Was there a new word or phrase that captured your attention as you read this time or are you still drawn to the precious word you received before?  If so stay with your word again, if not listen for a new word.  Take time to reflect on how this word or phrase is touching you ... why is there energy emanating from text?  How might God be calling your attention to the story of your life?

Oratio  (pray) through the passage as you read.  

Read the passage a 3rd time all the way to the end once again.  How are you being drawn to prayer through the story you find in the passage.   How do you respond to God, God with Us?   What will you say to God about your story and your life right now?  

Contemplation  (contemplation = awareness of God) Rest in the Presence of God ... Spend 10 minutes in the silence or as long as you are able, playing soft unknown instrumental music can help you to hold the space ... before moving back into the world.  How have you been transformed by God through praying the scriptures ... allow your word or phrase to emerge when needed to keep you grounded and connected to God.

You may want to listen to this beautiful instrumental arrangement by Casting Crowns ... O Come O Come Emmanuel.

You may want to pray with the Icon of Second Coming found above.  Take this Link for MOSAIC'S "How to pray with an Icon."

May your Advent Journey be blessed for the kingdom of God is approaching!  May you find yourself alert to the presence of Christ that surrounds you right here, right now!  Peace ...