By Father Casey
Advent may have only just begun, but Christmas came early for me this year. Returning to Transfiguration after a life-changing three month break from my work, and then experiencing the warmth of your embrace on my first weekend back…it has felt like an extended Christmas morning. Add to it the joyful surprise of seeing the brand new display cases housing our Heritage Edition of The St. John’s Bible, and it begins to feel like a dream. As I shared in my sermon last week, I cannot thank you enough for the gift you gave me this fall, for it was the most precious of all gifts: time. I return to my work, and to our mission, with renewed energy and commitment, and with an even greater appreciation for our wonderful staff team and all the people who serve and lead here.
Advent happens to be my favorite season of the church year! I love the Advent wreath with its slowly lighting clock. I love the angels gazing down at us from the closed triptych – Gabriel, archangel of the first advent, and Michael, archangel of the last advent. I love Advent hymnody, both the texts and the tunes. I love the Biblical characters we meet in Advent: Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, and my favorite bug-eating preacher, John the Baptist. I love the collects and prayers of Advent, which are as powerful as they are poetic. Mostly, though, I love the honesty of Advent. Christ has come, which means everything will ultimately be okay…and yet, we’re still waiting for the complete fulfillment of his victory. Things aren’t yet what they are intended to be. The world remains a waiting place, hallowed by the first advent, but not yet perfected by the final advent. Which is why we hear from Isaiah so much this season, the prophet who speaks so poignantly of this tension.
It’s a fun season, too. We let out our inner child a bit more this time of year – snapping a selfie with a camel, taking the long way home to see all the lights in the neighborhood. This is our inspiration to be a bit playful in our Sunday morning formation in Advent. This weekend, we’ll begin a three-week exploration of the story of the Magi, those wise stargazers with their strange baby gifts. It’s been interpreted all sorts of ways in art, literature, and music, so it’s wonderful fodder for a different group of “wise men” (and women!) to explore with you. I hope you’ll join us in Roper Hall for the conversation starting at 10:15.
Oh, and Advent Lessons & Carols happens this Sunday, too, offering another great reason to make your own journey this weekend to meet the Lord!
So, whether Christmas will come early for you this December, I hope to see you soon. Advent holds rich blessings for all who embrace it, who choose to watch and wait, to pause and pray, and to laugh and sing on our way to Bethlehem.
See you this weekend,
Father Casey