Doorway Four: Luminous Love, Day 1

In the beginning was the Word.

And the Word was with God.

And the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came into being through him,

and without him, not one thing came into being.

What has come into being in him was life,

and the life was light of all people.

The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness did not overcome it.

(John 1, NRSV)

Each Advent invites us to wait for the coming light, even when darkness (physical, emotional, social) can feel overpowering . For many of us, this past year has felt particularly dark and heavy: fears and limitations of Covid, losses and other unwelcome changes, and global weather calamities. And yet, we are invited to still hope in the life and light coming into the world. Like Mary, who questioned, "How can this be?" to the angel's startling words, we might also want to ask "How can this be?" - how can we keep trusting in light, when all around us seems so dark?

Jan Richardson writes, "When God shows up, God intends for us to know that loss and change are not where the story stops... Advent invites us to open ourselves to this love that continually makes its way toward us... every broken part of our life, everything we have lost, each thread of our story that has come to a close: all of our endings are held in the love that knows about all endings... that there is something beyond every ending."

Love is "making its way toward us." I love these words. Love is always coming towards us; it's not dependent on our efforts; it's simply what Love does. Love does not wait until we "get our act together." We don't need to first pretty up our messes, solve all our problems, and sweep the dust and cobwebs from the corners. Below Madeleine L'Engle shares how Christ's Love and Life come into our broken world:

First Coming

He did not wait till the world was ready,

till men and nations were at peace.

He came when the Heavens were unsteady

and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.

He came when the need was deep and great.

He dined with sinners in all their grime,

turned water into wine.

He did not wait till hearts were pure.

He came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.

To a world like ours, of anguished shame

he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word made Flesh

the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane

to raise our songs with joyful voice,

for to share our grief, to touch our pain,

He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

"For God so loved the world..."

To ponder:

1) How is it for you to hold the darker places of your life as you travel through Advent and towards Christmas?

2) Who or what holds the light for you? Who do you hold light for?

3) Is there a spiritual practice or prayer that helps you recognize the light and love coming towards you?

Resources:

Jan Richardson, "The Star at the End of the World," 2021 Advent Retreat, janrichardson.com