There is a special relationship that ties in the life we have on earth and the season of Advent. The season of Advent is a time of waiting and preparing for the Joy of the Christ entering time. Heaven meets earth, and eternity becomes a moment to experience.
Throughout the bible stories the motif of "a Savior" coming and leading humanity from the pains and captivity of the world is ever present.
This motif goes beyond the infant, indeed it is the life of Christ in the fullness of time that requires us to empty ourselves and to submit to the will of the Father.
We are presently aware of current events that are specific to the protests throughout the United States in regard to violence that is hard to understand. We can look at any of the news sources and see the headlines that are pointing to human right violations and for many of us it is difficult to grasp.
These are no new occurrences in the world. Look throughout the history of humanity and we will hear the cry of the oppressed. The plea for God to hear our voice and come to our aid is ever present.
In many ways the world is a better place with the advances in medicine and technology, but there still remains the human condition that rears its ugly head and reminds us that personal sin explodes resulting in the violence and sins against humanity.
Waiting presupposes we anticipate an outcome. Waiting requires patience and a peaceful mind that allows us to see through the storm, to see through the present and peer into the future.
The ancient prophets talked and wrote about the Messiah that was coming to deliver us from the pains and oppression holding the people captive.
The stories of the Martyrs and Saints of the Church are filled with people, like you and me, enduring trials and lives of misery and violence, and in some cases death, to gain the victory.
These people we read about are no different that we are in that we have the same ability to overcome the same life problems.
This doesn't have to be an event that results in public protest, though it may be, it can be a simple martyrdom such as enduring an illness, living from paycheck to paycheck, or perhaps, or maybe a life that has been filled with disappointment and loss.
It's often a mistake of pastors and speakers to assume that the beauty of a loving mother or a supportive family is across the board in regard to the listeners. It may not be.
Try telling someone who had a negligent and abusive parent that Jesus, or Mary is the loving Mother or Father that protects them and has their best interest in hand. I can assure you that it is seldom received well.
The entire history of humanity shares in suffering, we all suffer, it is where we are connected. We can understand, sympathize and empathize with suffering.
That is why there are riots and protests that are organized in response to a suffering. The whole of humanity understands, on some level, whether through the loss of a job that resulted in economic hardships, the senseless death of innocent people at the hands of another, or human rights that are not honored and respected, humanity understands suffering.
Advent is not just the joy of baby Jesus in a manger, Advent is the understanding of the cross and emptying ourselves, shedding the ego, and allowing Peace to carry us to the Easter we await in joyful hope.
Take the whole journey of Mary and Joseph from the moment the angel Gabriel announced that Mary was with child, the sojourn to safe lands to escape an egotistical emperor murder plot on the Holy Innocents, to the numerous "no vacancy signs" when the time came to give birth.
Spend time with Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 2:1-12 Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-20 and just be present in those moments. The world hasn't changed much except Mary didn't have a YouTube video of the murdering emperor or Travelocity to book a room and get GPS coordinates to Bethlehem.
When faced with sufferings and the human right violations act with Peace. The Apostle John tells us "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be fearful." John 14:27
