My Dear Friends,
We are approaching the second Sunday of Advent, and preparations for our great Celebration are Under way.
The Good news is that I have been able to eat three of the chocolates from my Advent calendar – the bad is that I only have 21 left to go!
As for my other preparations, they are all in a bit of disarray this year. I won’t be seeing my family, which means I can not give them presents in person. If I send things, I am wondering when they will get there, and my plan is for Christmas Hampers for some, but will they already have the things they need – so should I send it early. I can’t do decisions like this!
But as you well know – the preparations the scriptures talk about are not to do with chocolate and hampers, but preparing the way of the Lord.
If the King was going on a journey, it was a big deal. No methods of mass communication, but still the need to convey hugely important details to so many people in plenty of time. So plans would be made. In itinerary arranged, the purpose of the visit / journey agreed, and the dates fixed. Then the forerunners would set of and visit the towns on route saying, The King is coming here on December 25th (for example), so please get everything ready. Make sure he has the best welcome ever, and so that he is comfortable, sort out the roads! No lumps and bumps, no puddles and ruts, no crumbling of paths close to the edge on the mountain pass. We don’t want the King to go tumbling down! So crack on with it.
The excitement would be palpable, as it was such a rare thing for the King to pass through, and everyone would lend a hand to make it the best experience ever.
So what about us. How can we blend or practical preparations with our spiritual ones.
of course we want our festive celebrations to be as great as they possibly can. We certainly could do with some things to cheer us up this year, so let’s make whatever we do as safe and enjoyable as possible.
But how do we welcome the King of Kings into our hearts deeply and meaningfully.
Well one way is to spend some time imagining the story. We know it so well, there is a danger of taking it for granted. But if we think it through, we realise it is the greatest story ever told, and it includes us.
Here is a poem written by Lisa Debney in which she imagines the thoughts of Mary.
How about thinking the story through with you taking part, and then reflecting what it all means. Hopefully it will come alive afresh and renewed.
Mary
Your eyes are open now.
Those eyes which will open
the eyes of others.
You study my face
and, just for a moment,
though you came for the world,
you are mine and mine alone.
I made you and you made me
and we gaze at each other
in equal wonderment.
Your eyes are open now, and so dark-bright-
sent from a night
full of light and stars-
that I could watch you for ever
watch your chest rise and fall
as you breathe the cattle soaked air.
I would like this moment to last for ever,
you are so wonderful to me,
so truly wonderful as you are.
But not my will, Lord,
but yours be done.
I must hand you over
for the world cries out for you,
though I cry out to let you go.
Just for tonight
let the future
leave us in peace.
Close your eyes, baby.
Close your bright eyes
on the dusty darkness
of the world.
There is majesty in you
but for now let it hide,
let it hide like a gem
while you sleep.
Bless you, Bless you, Bless you.
As ever, Fr Marcus