Advent Reflection

Adapted from Advent Reflection, Apocalyptic Texts
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You wouldn't expect it if you didn't have some experience with the liturgical calendar, but the Scripture readings during Advent are largely apocalyptic. They speak of war and of the end of times. People interpret these texts in many different ways, of course. One of the most common interpretations is that since Christmas is a celebration of the time when Jesus came the first time, then Advent ought to be an anticipation of the time when Jesus will "come again, to judge the living and the dead," to quote the Nicene Creed. I'd like to talk about another possibility when it comes to the apocalyptic texts.

Advent is a time of waiting, but it is not a passive time. It is a time of waiting for justice, for freedom from oppression, and for peace. The so-called apocalyptic texts focus on oppressive systems toppling. Yes, they speak of God as Judge, but God is always the Judge of the people who have hurt and oppressed the vulnerable in society. In other words, God is on the side of the poor, the weak, the hungry, the homeless, the lonely, the elderly, the orphans, the victims of war.

When Mary is pregnant with Jesus, she goes to her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John (the Baptist). As they meet each other, the babies inside them leap in joyous greeting. And then Mary spontaneously begins singing about God. Here is part of what she sings:

"He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the
thoughts of their hearts.
he has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty."

Mary is hoping what all the Jewish people looking for a Messiah were hoping: that God would free them from the terrible oppression of the Romans, as God had freed them from the oppression of the Egyptians. Mary is also quoting Hannah, who was the mother of Prophet Samuel. Hannah, too, sang in anticipation that Samuel would be part of God's plan to free the oppressed.

Advent ought to be a time when we consider the people of the world who are being oppressed, and consider how we can participate in their release (and our own release) from oppression, captivity, and violence.

MLK quotes apocalyptic texts in his sermon in opposition to the Vietnam War (Click here to listen to it.) , and he gets at the heart of the biblical apocalyptic texts that are crying out for justice, crying out for the end of suffering. This is the speech in which he says, quoting the prophet Amos, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice...With this faith we will be able to speed up the day when justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

As Advent begins, may we all wait eagerly, may we work tirelessly, may we hope with aching anticipation for the day...the day when justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.