A meditation for the 1st Sunday in Advent
Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.
- Isaiah 40:1-5, 11
Advent starts in the darkness. Our journey toward Christmas begins in a place we do not like to be. It starts in the wilderness, where we can easily experience disorientation. That seems particularly relatable this year.
Writing to a people in exile, the author of this portion of Isaiah promises a way forward that will lead to return and restoration. His vision is full of rich & compelling imagery: tender loving care for crying Jerusalem, a voice crying out in the desert, all people seeing together, flocks being fed and gathered in the arms of a shepherd.
This is where our Advent journey begins. In the wilderness, we are invited to prepare to experience God-with-us. In the darkness, we are invited to prepare the way for the unimaginable.
But, how do we prepare? After all, there are no step by step plans provided and no detailed instructions given.
Thankfully, we are well-acquainted with preparation. Rushing around, tending to all the details, making a list, checking it twice. Making sure we are doing all we can to make the party, the gift, the experience perfect (or at least not a total disaster).
I don’t think that’s the kind of preparation the prophet is calling forth. “Prepare the way of the Lord” is the invitation.
But. how exactly does one prepare the way for compassion, comfort, tenderness, radical love, abundance and togetherness? I can only think of one way.
By showing up. By paying attention. By being present.
The Well spent several years moving through the Advent Conspiracy together. It’s an alternative approach to preparing for Christmas. One of the central themes of the Advent Conspiracy is to choose presence over presents. It’s not that we don’t give gifts, but that we choose to give more intentionally and more relationally rather than simply spending money on more “stuff”. We learned that this way of giving takes creativity and planning and a deeper level of connection.
As we begin this year’s Advent journey and as we begin this next phase of our life together, what would help you and I become more present? How might we show up, pay attention and be present to ourselves, being aware of our anxiety, our longing, our gratitude & our expectation? How might we be present with God - with the One who makes a way? And how might we be present with our loved ones and with those who are especially struggling this season?
If you’ve been around The Well for very long, you know we tend to get creative with our Advent candles. On this first Sunday of Advent, we are lighting the candle of Preparation. Because this is our 5th Sunday Sabbath, we will not all be together as a community. That makes this an even better opportunity for each of us to carve out some space to get ready for the weeks ahead.
Prayer & practice:
Make some space wherever you are right now just to be present with the One who makes a way. Light a candle.
Take some deep breaths and settle in. Sit in silence and just “be” for a few minutes.
What invitations into deeper presence do you hear this morning? If a person or habit or action comes to mind, write it down.
Close your time with this simple prayer:
Way-making One, help me to present with You, with myself & with others.