Title: I Can't Wait: Substituting Compassion for Consumption
Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9
We rush in to Christmas. In too many Christian’s eyes, Christmas begins with Advent. It’s easy to understand why. Christmas decorations have been abundant in retails store since before Thanksgiving and we even decorate our churches with “Christmas” wreaths and garland much like we might decorate our homes for Christmas. I am not saying we shouldn’t do that. As a matter of fact I think it looks quite nice. I am saying that we have to learn to have a different understanding of Advent.
C.S. Lewis once said, “The Christian faith is a thing of unspeakable joy. But it does not begin with joy, but rather in despair. And it is no good trying to reach the joy without first going through the despair.” That is, at least in part, part of Advent. That is, at least in part, part of the anticipation, the waiting, of Advent. The longing for something better. The struggling with the despair in this world and longing for a God to make it better.
I would expand on Lewis' comments by saying that in order to reach the fullness of the joy that Christmas will ultimately offer, we must truly and deeply understand the fullness of the despair that the world can so frequently offer. Following a week where events like those in Mumbai have transpired, we are painfully aware of the horrors lurking in the folds of each page of history that will be written. These are the desert that we modern Magi must cross in order to arrive on Christmas Day at the manger.
Leaping into the consumption oriented demeanor that is so prevalent this time of year will only rob us of the potential expansiveness of joy that awaits us on the other side of it. In order to fully appreciate the beauty of “God with us” delivered as a child in a manger, we must exchange consumption for compassion during Advent.
I hope to see you this Sunday for the rest of the sermon. ;-)
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