Advent 2: The Way of the Prophets and "Cups"

Advent is a time of preparation.  Advent 2 is about finding a path in order to come closer to God in openness, expectancy, and longing.  Anna Kendrick's song, Cups, illustrates this week's Advent theme very well.  Waiting for the Messiah brings with it active waiting and preparing to unite with Him.  As Kendrick's chorus repetitively states, "You're gonna miss me when I'm gone," I am reminded of the incredible amount of work that people are doing this time of year to be able to prepare for various holidays.

Decorating takes a lot of work as does the culinary arts that thrive during holiday seasons.  Still, we are brought back to scripture to ground us into why we are celebrating.  Interestingly, the ground and grounding oneself in the ways of God are the main themes in this week's reading from Isaiah 2: 1-5.  In this selection of the text, in a vision people are called out in the last days to the mountains to raise the temple of God, to learn God of Jacob's ways, to beat their swords into plowshares, to attain and maintain peace.  The descendants of Jacob are called to walk in the light of the Lord.  Because I live in America, I am always reminded of children's shoes with lights in them when the readings say to walk in the light of the Lord.  While it is a very literal image, it works really well along with "Cups."

I miss the light of the people I love when they are gone.  From time to time, I have been told that they miss me when I am gone.  At any point in time when that happens, Advent waiting appears.  Busy active waiting is not one that does nothing.  Advent waiting is one of preparation for one another.  Preparing work for the future or sowing seeds in the ground.  Studying scripture so that it is known to your heart and not left in a text is active waiting to know the Lord in order to walk in the light.

In Mishkan T'Filah: A Reform Siddur, there is a prayer of praise which states in part:

Praise God in market and workplace,

with computer, with hammer and nails.

Praise God in bedroom and kitchen;

praise God with pots and pans.

Praise God in the temple of the present;

let every breath be God's praise.  

In everything, we are to praise God.  The Way of the Prophets is one of truth and patience.  Both truth and patience are praised.  This Advent season, people can praise God for a lot.  As Americans, we have more material things than most other nations.  We have first-world issues like iPads being too heavy and not having enough battery life.  We have seasonal concerns like not confusing airplane pilots with our holiday light displays and making sure that scarves match the choir's robes in our churches for the big show in a couple weeks.  Our first-world concerns are often prioritized higher than the third world among us in the poor who are always present.  To walk in the light means to know them and to care for those with less.  

Less can mean a lot.  Is there a member of the faith community who really can't buy the holiday cookies in the fundraiser?  Someone could buy them and make them appear for that person without acknowledgment.  Less could mean that the parents in a family are giving everything they can this season to their kids and are not receiving for themselves.  Then, they are experiencing less.  Sometimes, less is better.  Does someone need help in their homes for the holiday season?  In all of these things, we can praise God.  We can praise God that as we are waiting we have been entrusted to help people experience the lesser moments.  God is the judge of the lesser moments that cause people to settle disputes by beating spears into pruning hooks.  Hanging the greens unites families in our community through the chill of winter.  Pruning the rough edges of pastries and creating activities to unite people is a holy time to God.  Discipling to accept one another in peace keeps the light of God guiding all of our journeys.  We will miss one another when we are gone.    

Walk in the light this week as we all prepare for the miraculous this season.