ADVENT AGENTS OF REVELATION

   As we move toward the Holy Nativity and Christmas, we hear stories of John the Baptist, Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, the dream of Joseph, the journey to Bethlehem, and the mystic stargazers from the East. We are given rich opportunities to anticipate the coming of Jesus and reflect on what it all means in our lives.

   The Advent stories are part of the belief narrative that Christ has come and will come again. It is a narrative that looks both to the past and to the future but is best understood in relation to the present. Yes, Christ came to us as the Divine Infant Jesus, and yes, Christ will come again. But Christ also comes to us continually, in every single heartbeat, each breath, in every moment and every action we take. The Great Reality of God lives within every one of us. How do we recognize the unfolding of this Christ Consciousness? What does it look like? What does it feel like? And most importantly, how does it change us and the world around us? How does it propel us to work together to make the world a better place?

   The incarnation of God in the person of Jesus was, and is today, unmistakably about the reign of God’s justice, mercy, and truth. From John’s clarion call to repentance and seek forgiveness, to Mary’s Magnificat, it is clear the coming of Christ is about much more that a sweet baby Jesus in the manger. It is about God’s reign breaking upon us and calling us to be agents of this revelation of divine love.

   How do we go about being agents of this Divine revelation handed to us in the Incarnation? The answer to that question lies within the story. We should be more than just spectators or a listening audience to the story. We should look for and see ourselves in it.

   As God’s agents of revelation, we are all called to be John the Baptist. We are to be the voice of truth crying out in the wilderness. We are to prepare the way of the coming reign of God in Jesus – first preparing our own hearts and then helping others hear the message of the indwelling truth of justice, mercy, compassion, and love for all. As the Benedictus found in the Gospel of Luke says: And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way, to give God’s people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn will break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

   We are also called to be, like Mary, bearers of prophetic truth that protests injustices and human indignities and announces the reign of God that will topple tyranny and lift up the oppressed. We are called to open the womb of our hearts and give to the world the gift of God’s motherly kindness that nurtures flourishing of the human spirit. This is what it means to live the incarnate life of Jesus.

   Our suffering world needs the good news of God’s reign of justice, mercy, and truth. As Thomas Merton said: It’s not just a question of goodwill and generosity: it is a question of waking up to crying injustices and deep-seated problems which are ingrained in the present setup and which, instead of getting better, are going to get worse unless we have a profound change of heart, a deep reaching metanoia. 

   This was the call of John the Baptist and the prophetic vision sung by Mary. This needs to be our call and our song. The world needs us now. Stand up. Lift your head. Be alert. Stay awake and help awaken the hearts of those around us in a world in need of the saving hope and truth of the Incarnation.

   I believe that our deepest longing is to be known by Jesus and to allow him to challenge us in ways that will break us open and set us free. Now is our chance once again to open our hearts and prepare the way for Christ who is coming to us, not just some two thousand years ago or somewhere far off in the future, but coming right this very moment with his desire that we would know him and accept the challenge of the radical Gospel life of love.    

Brother Dennis