Advent Week 1: Bringing Christ to Birth
This Advent, Call To Action has asked four different people to write a reflection on how they bring Christ to birth. While each is unique and personal, their words can expand our understandings and stir our own imaginations. This Advent let us ruminate with this question: how do I bring Christ to birth?
As an advocate for peace and justice, I see Advent as bringing Christ to birth today by recognizing the building the reign of God in the light of the three comings of Jesus.
Advent always brings to mind the three-fold coming of the Word-Anointed One-Jesus.
The Word was foretold in mystery
The Word came in mystery
The Word will return in majesty.
Preparation
In the beginning God promised one who would be a Gift of bridge-building between human and divine—cause of reconciliation. Long ago and down the ages the promise was proclaimed by prophets reminding those who would forget about the Gift. And even then, some would get confused, thinking the gift would come wrapped in finery.
History
In the fullness of time the Gift did come—wrapped, yes, but in the simplicity swaddling cloths and manger straw. Anomaly this: the Gift revealed in an animal’s eating box, disguised as food to challenge the wise! Or prologue to his proclamation about the Bread of Life as the Gift walked among us. The choice belonged to those who waited. And those who awaited the coming in fine wrappings did not recognize the Gift, while those who were looked down upon by those awaiting the finery easily recognized the Gift with simplicity. And the Gift treasured those who brought him their own gifts. The Gift treasured the gifts. And the Gift kept on giving*—right down to his life. And the Gift kept giving—right up to a new life.
Mystery
Since then, the Gift has been recognized in many places, by many people— Presence revealed in the signs of his love shown forth through others who keep giving. And they are fed by the Gift from the new manger multiplied throughout the land. From there they go out made aware they are called to be gifts.
Majesty
The Gift that never stops giving will return to give still more—to us. And the sign by which he will recognize his own is the gifting of self we’ve done of our lives.
And us
Readied by Advent-Christmas in our reflection on the History, we need to learn from the past. Reflecting in awe at the Mystery, we gain strength in the life and example of the Word made flesh. We prepare for the Majesty, by working in union with sisters and brothers to bring about the Reign of God. So now we are approaching Christmas. . .we are being fed at the manger of the Gift, Strengthened to be gifts again and again. Come. It is time to be gifts sent out.
*With apologies to the Edison Company where the first use of the phrase ”the gift that keeps on giving” was used as a catchphrase for marketing the phonograph since 1924, trademarked in the United States in 1927. Neither is there intent reference the more contemporary meaning of the phrase as applied to STDs.
