The season of Advent is directing our attention to a most important spiritual and historical event - the Coming of the Christ, the Incarnation of the Word of God as Jesus of Nazareth. As a period of preparation for this event, the ancient church has placed it in the same category as the season of Lent (which is a preparation for Easter), in that it uses the penitential and healing colour of Violet.
As with all the great festivals and seasons we celebrate at church, the period of Advent can be approached on different levels, it can be explored in different ways, and as a starting point I approach them on these three levels- social, psychological and spiritual.
(a) At the social level, we precoccupy ourselves during the weeks of Advent with the buying of presents, putting up decorations in the home and office, going to parties etc, all in preparation for the happy event of Christmas. It is a period of "good will to all". There is a strengthening of family ties and friendships.
(b) On the psychological level, we are likely to spare a moment or two for a consideration of the special liturgy which is to come, the services of Christmas, and perhaps a passing thought for the readings selected for the whole period of Advent and Christmas. We may internalise a few of them and reflect on why this is a time of good will, a period of special blessing.
(c) And on the spiritual level, we may go even more deeply into ourselves and come in touch with our Higher Self, that 'vital and immortal principle'. And in so doing we await eagerly for the birth of the Christ-Child, there, within the cave of the human heart. The great mystic Angelus Silesius wrote in one of his hymns we use, "Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, but not within thyself, thy life is all forlorn" (Hymn No.346).
In order that we may be able to assimilate the significance of this time of year, the Church sets aside four weeks or so in order that we may have time to reflect and prepare. It is an opportunity for moral, psychological and spiritual adjustment and attunement. Adjustment and Attunement - these are key words. In fact, this is what we do every time we pray or meditate, every time we come to church and celebrate the liturgy, every time we worship together as a community. And during this season of Advent, this process of attunement is especially important.
As we start once again the church's ecclesiastical calendar (notice how it does not coincide with the secular calendar!), we are starting a new cycle, a new chapter in our life. The Church is renewed by this cyclical process, and so are we. We also have new pages in the Book of Life before us in which to write, new chapters in which to record our experiences as we continue on our spiritual journey.
Our life is focussed most of the time on worldly things, on the development of worldly wisdom, on those things which we can see, hear, touch, taste and smell. We are in this sense very physical creatures, and our sensory input of these experiences of the physical world make it difficult for us to be aware of the other dimensions of the world in which we live, of ourselves, let alone having an awareness of the God who created all this.
Advent is pointing to an extraordinary event in the history of humanity, one which gave it a particular 'impetus' in order that it may move in a new direction. It can be said that the personification of the Law of Love in the person Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most powerful demonstrations of God's involvement in our own lives. Advent is pointing to this great truth.
In order that we may be able to enter the stable, the "Cabinet of Wisdom", at Christmas, we need to prepare ourselves both at a personal level and as a community. And so we have a set of readings and Intents to aid us during these weeks of Advent. Yes, we have read them before, but I find that they have something new to say each time I hear them. There is the opportunity to be touched deep within the soul by something which 'comes through' a particular reading. That's why we have the scriptures as part of our services. They are a source of inspiration, of grace, and they also act as a catalyst. The readings give us a focus on the eternal truths. And our regular involvement in Liturgy nurtures that which we have received through the vehicle of the spoken word, and thus to grow spiritually within the framework of both Word and Sacrament.
In our study we often come across references to the ancient Path to Holiness or Spiritual Perfection. It has within it three very distinct stages and they are called Purification, Illumination and Union with God. Charles Leadbeater points out in his writings that the season of Advent represents our preparation for the first stage, that of Purification, hence the colour of Violet for the vestments, for it has a cleansing affect on us all. The special Intents for these weeks give a focus to our own preparation, they are the personal qualities of Discrimination, Desirelessness, Good Conduct and Love, as we proceed on our journey from a far-off land to the stable at Bethlehem.
There is another aspect of the meaning of Advent that I wish to mention. In the minds of most people Advent refers to two great cosmic events: firstly, the Incarnation, when the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us as Jesus of Nazareth; and secondly, the coming of the Christ in glory at the Last Day. In fact, according to the ancient teaching of the Church, there are four spiritual events or epochs in this great cosmic drama. Each event unfolds and reveals an aspect of the Divine Plan, the nature and purpose of our own personal existence, and what is to be our own spiritual destiny. Advent points to these mysteries.
These are called the four comings of Christ:
1. The first is in the flesh (Incarnation) in this world. We celebrate and commemorate this event at Christmas, the Nativity of our Lord. This event took place nearly 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem.
2. The second is said to occur in the hearts of all people (viz "take Christ into your heart", "Christ in you, the hope of glory" etc.). Liberal Catholics would describe this as the mystical birth of the Christ within the cave of the human heart. And it is our hope that this will take place during our present lives, and at that moment ordained by God.
3. The third occurs at the death of each of His servants. Our Lord the Christ meets us in His resurrected and spiritual body at our time of transition.
4. The fourth occurs on the Day of Judgement, however you may understand this to be made manifest. The importance of this event and its likely date of occurrence varies among Christian denominations. Some groups are totally preoccupied with it while others give very little notice to it in their teachings. Our Church does not give so much consideration to the mystery of the Last Days. There are several reasons for this, but they need not detain us now. What I can say is that the LCC believes that the service of the Holy Eucharist, at which we have communion with our Lord in the way he ordained, is not only the fulfilment of His promise to return, but also to abide "with us" and "in us". Thus, in this sense, we experience the perpetual coming and the continued presence of the Christ, here and now.
As you read the selections from scripture for these weeks in Advent, you will notice that the prophecy of forthcoming events has been presented in very colourful and poetic language. (Please note that they were written within a largely agrarian and desert culture in the Northern hemisphere!) Spiritual and seasonal themes are mixed together and present a colourful tapestry of ideas and images. For example, we read of the arid ground of the desert waiting for the (northern) winter rains, corresponding to St.John the Baptist's life in the wilderness and his own baptism; to the coming of the "Day-spring from on high" to "those that sit in darkness". Also, the miracle of the blossoming rod, which is to liberate humanity from its arid past and revive us all with the waters of eternal life. (To people living in the desert, water is life, and therefore a powerful symbol with which to represent the renewal of life in all its aspects.)
At this time of year we wish to share with others experiences of our own journey, and also our celebration of the Incarnation which is simple yet profound in its presentation. And one of the things we do is to exchange presents. Well, this is not really surprising: God gave humanity a precious gift, a part of Himself in human form as Jesus of Nazareth, and in recognition of this we give to others something of ourselves. As God's love was revealed in this moment of history in a special tangible way (the babe in Bethlehem), so too do we find it easier to show our love and affection for others in the form of a gift. The offering of gifts to the Christ-Child by the Magi is a pretty good example to follow! (Notice also that, in our celebration of the holy eucharist, we use the words: "here do we offer and present unto thee our selves, our souls and bodies....". And so, at every Sunday service, we are making an offering of ourselves, as a gift, to our Master.)
One of the greatest challenges in society today, a society in which we have made life so complex, so hectic and complicated for ourselves, is to approach the mysteries of our faith (for that is what they are) with a simplicity which is childlike (but not childish). Our preparation, therefore, includes trying to put aside the physical, mental and emotional constructs of this world, and move to a point of stillness, simplicity and openness, so that the story of Christmas may speak to us more meaningfully.
According to the mystical teachings which appeal to our Church, we need to work towards the birth of the Christ-Spirit within the cave of our own heart. This means that, although the Magi travelled far through the desert to reach Bethlehem, we in fact must travel inwards, deeper and deeper, into our own being. This is the journey we are undertaking now. Our religion only starts to make sense if we do this, take this inward journey. And in due course we will find that "Bright Morning Star which brings peace and salvation to the whole human race". It is there, shining above that sacred place, our own sanctum sanctorum. It is there that we will be in the very presence of the Divine Child, which is abiding in the very centre of our own being. The Christmas story points to this great and wondrous truth, the birth of the Christ-Child within each of us.
