Watching, Waiting, Missing
AdventWord – Watch
Advent brings us a whispered call to vigilance and watchfulness. We anticipate celebrating the birth of Jesus, but too often allow ourselves to be distracted from the subtle way God is moving in our world.
It was no different when Jesus was born. Judea was waiting for a messiah with all the fervor of a kindergarten class waiting for Christmas this month. Oppressive Roman rule was everywhere, yet the Jewish people clung to the prophecy that a Messiah would come, restore Israel, and deliver peace to them; meanwhile the Jewish people were splintering into cliques.
The people waited and watched and prayed for the prophecy’s fulfillment, but the real Messiah was coming in another way–via his pregnant teenage mother who had to travel to Bethlehem. The Messiah was not a hero arriving to sweep the Romans out of the land, but a humble baby who would grow to be a young man espousing non-violence.
Many people were informed about Jesus early on. An angel appeared to the shepherds near Bethlehem and announced His birth. The Magi scholars came from the east with their gifts. Anna recognized him as the redemption of Jerusalem at the Temple, and Simeon who had been promised that he would not die before seeing the Messiah, gave us his touching Song–the satisfied blissful prayer, ready for death now that he has seen Jesus, whom he calls “a light to enlighten the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”
These people all discerned the presence of Jesus. The shepherds, itinerant farm hands, were among the first to know and remind us that it is often those living on our society’s margins who are most attuned to watching for God. Meanwhile the Magi, unswayed by local issues, also were receptive to watching.
And Simeon and Anna, both spiritual watchers dedicated to seeing God’s presence, immediately knew that the infant Jesus was the Messiah.
During the end of his ministry, when Jesus knew that the authorities were planning to execute him, He asked Peter, John, and James to keep watch with him, but they slept instead. Later, after His resurrection, he found them hiding in the upper room, uncertain and scared about the future.
His arrival was desperately anticipated, but those watching didn’t recognize him.
His death was feared, but his closest followers couldn’t see how he had already empowered them.
So what about us? How do we watch for Jesus in our lives? How do we examine our surroundings to find God working, and do we cower in our equivalent of upper room when we see what we’ve been seeking?
It’s a scary world for so many people. It almost always is. But we can learn from Simeon and Anna and Mary. We can stay spiritually awake, constantly seeking God. The more we watch for God, the more we will find him.
Remember the admonition from Hebrews: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” As usual our real instructions from God are often quite clear. It’s our muddling around trying to apply them in legalistic ways that often confuse matters.
Heavenly Father, who gave us the wherewithal to watch for You and the free will to choose how to do so, bless us this Advent season as the world commemorates the birth of Jesus. Help us be mindful of Your presence so that we may love you with all our hearts, and help us to be watchful for our neighbors sake so that we may love them as we love ourselves, as our Lord Jesus has taught us.
Amen.
Image: ChatGPT 4 prompted by George Bounacos
#adventword #forwardmovement #stannesreston #watch
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During this Advent Season, I am participating in the Advent Word ministry by sharing an image, writing, or other creative expression around a different word each day. I hope that you’ll also join this effort to create a global Advent calendar on some or all of the days. Learn more about it here: https://adventword.org/