Advent is Arrival

For me, the beauty and challenge of Advent is experiencing hope and waiting together, in community. So I listen for the voices that call me to contemplate the promise anew. Sharon Chubbuck speaks warmth and wisdom in ways that I can hear and embrace. May her words bless you and welcome you this Advent. -Renée

“Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem…The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” 

I’ve always loved this line. The vast enormity of all of humanity’s hopes and fears, over all time, coming together and “met”—hopes fulfilled, fears relieved—in the humble birth of a helpless newborn. A newborn totally dependent on his mother’s protection and care. For me, this beautifully captures the upside-down God of Kingdom.  

Lately, I’ve been thinking about this idea differently, though. While I still trust in the coming Kingdom of God, I’ve been reflecting on what it means that Emmanuel—God With Us—embraced full humanity.  Jesus is not “just” the bridge to the place where all hopes are fulfilled and all fears relieved. Jesus has taken on every aspect of our human experience. Like the title of Ron Simkins’ book, “Jesus is One of Us.” And that is profoundly important. 

Being human is a wonderful thing. Loving relationships, the wonders of nature, kindness and creativity in people all around us. Jesus the human enjoyed all that loveliness. Meals with friends, considering the lilies, dancing at weddings, singing and laughing and playing with little children. And in Jesus’ humanity, we see God’s smile and blessing on all those wonderful parts of our humanity.

But being human is also hard. We hope that good will prevail, but our fears are often legitimate. Friends and family betray us. Leaders are seduced by power and wealth. Children suffer the ravages of war, famine, oppression even as we long for peace and justice. This part of being human reveals our common “poverty of spirit.” Jesus experienced that poverty fully, even going through the ultimate human experience of poverty of spirit—death. And in his humanity, we see that God is present, in all things. 

Advent means arrival. Jesus “arrived” as one of us, fully immersed in all our human hopes and fears, as a human fully trusting God in every part of the wonderful, messy human experience. Jesus “arrives” to show us God’s stamp of joyful blessing on all that is good.  And Jesus “arrives” to show us that we can trust God in the hardest parts of being human. In the darkest night, when we feel most alone, God is with us. “I will never leave you, I will never forsake you.” 

Jesus is one of us—in the best and the hardest parts of being human—steadily sending the message, God with us. Emmanuel.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

Lord, this Advent season help us to see your arrival—in the joy and in the suffering of being human. Inspire us with your humanity and your faithful trust in God. And Brother Jesus, meet us in our hopes and fears as we long for more of your arrival in our world.

Sharon Chubbuck
December 2022  

One Comment On “Advent is Arrival”

  1. Beautifully and truthfully said, Sharon – I was reminded of my song, “Held”, drawn mainly from Ps. 88. You help me see that it has a good piece of Advent in it!

    Reply

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