There is generally agreement that there is something deep inside of us that tells us what is right and what is wrong. It is sometimes called our moral compass or our conscious, but whatever its name there are times when it tells us that all is not right with this world in which we live. Now some of time this is just whining, like when we complain that our soy milk latte appears to have one and a half shots of vanilla when we had specifically requested that there be only one. But there is a layer of this unease that exists beyond the spoiled part of us that likes to whine about more selfish things. We look around and see things like war, famine and just about anything that happens in North Korea and realize there is something broken in humanity. But it is not just in these large instances, we also see it in things like divorce, neglected children and individuals who don't speak to each other because of differences in political opinions. All of this points to the fact that there is brokenness on this earth. But to get into some eighth grade level philosophy, what this awareness of the broken nature of this world means is that we must also know or have an understanding of that which is not broken. That is in order for us to know something is not right we need to have some sort of vision of what is right. We need a criterion by which to judge much of what we see around us as being somehow not quite right. And I would argue that looking to what is right and thereby understanding what is wrong is at its most basic what Advent is about. Advent is an inventorying of that which is wrong coupled with the longing for something to come and make it right. For this is the season of preparation for Christ’s coming, both historically and for a second time. In that preparation, we are to also look at those things in the world and in ourselves that are not ready for that return. The things that are not quite right that need some improving if they are really going to be ready for Christ’s coming.
One of the problems with our modern Christmas, and I realize that you pretty much get this rant every year so bear with me, but one of the problems is that it skips the preparation and jumps right into the lawn decorations, Christmas specials and the nonstop playing of Santa Baby. It makes it seem like we have already prepared. Modern Christmas is the everyone gets a trophy holiday of the modern era. There is no need to get ready because a few sparkly lights and some lawn reindeer will paper over all of the fact that all is not well. Modern Christmas believes that if it yells loud enough we can somehow be prepared the moment we wash the last dirty dish from our Thanksgiving celebration.
This year in the week leading up to Thanksgiving I noticed a number of articles by people saying that Thanksgiving was their favorite holiday. People had various reasons, but the common thread among these articles was that Thanksgiving was the last holiday that was still celebrated the way it was intended. You gathered with friends and loved ones, ate a meal together and gave thanks for all of the blessings of this life. And while I know Advent is not a holiday, I think the lack of the buffer that it provides in its current incarnation is what makes a lot of people grumpy about Christmas; because there is just too much Christmas. With Thanksgiving coming as early as it did we are going to have 33 uninterrupted days of the “Christmas Season.” I mean on the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving I flipped on the TV and they were already playing The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, even though, as I just said it would be over 30 days before there would be an actual Christmas to steal. It would have been easier for him to have stolen St. Nicholas Day or Pearl Harbor Day, they were much closer. So anyway I think my rant is about over, but the reason I continue to do it is because it is really important to have an Advent. It has been said that those who do not know how to fast also do not know how to feast. In a similar way I feel that if we are not prepared for the coming of Jesus much of the specialness of Christmas will be lost.
And this may be sounding like you must eat your vegetables before you get any dessert and maybe it is in a way, but eating vegetables is important and does not have to be a dreadful experience. It is just a different experience from that of ice cream. Taking time to reflect on things within ourselves that are not ready for the coming of Christ can seem like self-flagellation or it can look like going to the gym and getting in shape, not necessarily easy but very needed. For when we think of our life the easy thing to do is to sit on the couch, eating Hungry Man Dinners and squirting whip cream directly into our mouths. But ultimately such a sedentary lifestyle leads to all sorts of problems. According to the World Health Organization, “Sedentary lifestyles increase all causes of mortality, double the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity, and increase the risks of colon cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, lipid disorders, depression and anxiety.” And while none of us want disordered lipids, contrast this with an active lifestyle which according to the Mayo Clinic, “Controls weight, combats health conditions and diseases, improves mood, boosts energy and promotes better sleep.” Exercise and physical activity may be the more difficult choice up front but they ultimately lead to a happier and more fulfilling life. In the same way if we take some time before the blare of non-stop Christmas to examine ourselves and ask what in us is not bringing glory to God, it may be a little rough at first, like the first day back at the gym, but it ultimately leads to a more fulfilling life. And it is not just that, but it is also a life that will be filled with greater joy at the coming of Christ.
I will end with a story that I may have told before.In around 371 BC, the Greek writer Xenophon wrote what is often called The Choice of Hercules. You all remember Hercules - he was strong and chopped off the heads of the Hydra but the basics of Xenophon’s story are this: Hercules when he was younger was approached by two women one represented virtue and the other vice.Vice speaks first and speaking to Hercules tells him, “I will Lead you into the possession of pleasure, and out of the reach of pain, and remove you from all the noise and disquietude of business. The affairs of either peace or war, shall have no power to disturb you. Your whole employment shall be to make your life easy, and to entertain every sense with its proper gratifications. Sumptuous tables, beds of roses, clouds of perfumes, concerts of music, crowds of beauties, are all in readiness to receive you.”Virtue by contrast makes a much different speech saying, “I will be open and sincere with you, and must lay down this, as an established truth, that there is nothing truly valuable which can be purchased without pains and labor. The gods have set a price upon every real and noble pleasure. If you would gain the favor of the Deity, you must be at the pains of worshiping him: if the friendship of good men, you must study to oblige them: if you would be honored by your country, you must take care to serve it. In short, if you would be eminent in war or peace, you must become master of all the qualifications that can make you so.”She concludes by saying, “my followers are favored by the gods, beloved by their acquaintance, esteemed by their country, and after the close of their labors, honored by posterity.”Hercules chooses the more difficult path because he realizes that it is the only path to growth and betterment and that the most worthy and noble things in life come at a cost.May we take time to go through the work of Advent so that we may be God’s both now and forevermore.