Surprise?

All the stories in the gospels of the events leading up to the birth of Christ share something in common: the element of surprise.

Mary was surprised to be visited by an angel and told that she would give birth to the Messiah.

Joseph was surprised (and distraught) to learn that Mary was pregnant, but even more surprised to learn that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah was surprised to learn that he was to become a father.

Elizabeth was surprised to be with child despite her advanced age.

The Magi were surprised to see the star signaling the birth of a king.

Herod was surprised to learn from the Magi that one had been born “King of the Jews.”

The shepherds were surprised by the choir of angels that lit up the night sky where they were tending sheep.

The whole story of Jesus’ birth is surprising. Who knew that God would answer the prayer of the prophet, “Tear open the heavens and come down!” (Isaiah 64:1) with the birth of a baby in the humblest of circumstances?

And yet, the season in which we celebrate Christ’s birth is the least surprising time of the year. It has become so laden with tradition, custom, and expectation that hardly anything happens that has not happened before. In fact, deviation from the norm usually results from some sort of loss, whether of a person, mobility, or a home, and in turn causes grief.

As the culture keeps adding new layers of expectation, the season of Advent (which begins tomorrow) recedes further and further from our consciousness. But the invitation never wavers. In the Christian calendar, the weeks leading up to Christmas are meant for intentional prayer and mindfulness. Rather than fill up our calendars with events and our shopping carts with stuff, we are called to empty ourselves before God, preparing room in our hearts to be … surprised.

Advent is not intended to be an elongated celebration of Christ’s birth. It is a season of preparation and renewal. Before the consumerist revolution, when Christmas gifts were fewer and simpler and Christmas trees were not typically set up and decorated until Christmas Eve, the concept of Advent was easier to embrace. But today, amid the weeks-long shopping orgy and various holiday parties, it is downright counter-cultural.

Observing Advent does not require Christians to be dour and contemptuous of the cultural festivals. We are, after all, sent into the world – a world that pines for hope, especially during this time of year when sunlight is spare and muted by its low angle. But while in the world, we are not of the world. Finding that balance is particularly difficult between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but still worth seeking.

Maybe you will be the element of surprise for someone else by saying or doing something unexpected. And as we cultivate mindfulness for such opportunities, God just might surprise us, too.

May you be blessed this Advent.

©2017 by J. Mark Lawson

Comments

[Deb Record]

And may you be blessed, as well, during this Advent season. Thank you for your message.