come, thou long-expected Jesus

"Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, 'Come Lord Jesus!' 
Amen."
~Henri J. M. Nouwen

As the light from the candles atop the Advent wreath grow brighter, we are reminded of the increased intensity of God's entrance into the world - his light into our darkness. The fourth candle lit represents love. How fitting that the culmination of the other weeks - hope, peace, joy - are all brought together in love.

The elder captured it all with such a profound simplicity, "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

In many ways we are still waiting for Jesus to appear among us. I realize this sounds rather absurd to many of you since our church-time is spent, in large part, asking for the presence of God to be made real in our lives. Well, as long as the presence of Jesus doesn't hold us past 11:59am, ask us to alter our behavior in any way, or require that we know our neighbor beyond a hallow greeting. Otherwise, we are so ready for Jesus to show up.**

BUT. . .God is love. Contrary to what you may hear in most churches, this is not just some warm blanket that makes you feel like everything's alright in your life as long as you keep coming to Sunday service on a semi-regular-slightly-comatose state and coast your way through the ins and outs of spirituality.

No. Because the whole foundation of the Christmas story is that everything is not alright. Jesus did not come down to earth just to pat everyone on the back and try the fish. The advent of the Christ was an act of spiritual warfare, driven out of God's incredible LOVE for each of us. If everything is as good as preachers make it sound then there is really no need for Jesus at all. Perhaps that is why need-for-Jesus has been so removed from our pulpits.

Everything is not alright. Such is the effect of sin.
Everything will be alright. Such is the effect of Jesus.

With the light from the Advent wreath shining brightly to symbolize Christ's illumination of the darkness, perhaps we can increase the intensity of our self-sacrificial love for each other. Because, "God is love," and all will know his disciples by. . .




**(specifics are interchangeable; these three address a certain UM church in the so-called Bible Belt)