The Coming of the Light
      We know things that the people of Jesus’ time did not know.  In fact, we know things that most of the people who have ever lived did not know.  For example, we know that the earth orbits the sun, and that the earth is tilted on its axis so that for about half the year, the Northern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight, and for the other half of the year, the Southern Hemisphere enjoys the sunshine.
      We also know that, because of this, the days in our hemisphere steadily become shorter through the summer and fall, until the winter solstice, when they once again begin to lengthen.
But think about what it would be like to watch the sun sink lower and lower in the sky each day, and the darkness arrive earlier and earlier each evening — in a time when darkness was really dark — if you did not know why this was happening, and could not be sure that the process would reverse:  “If this keeps up, there will be nothing but darkness…!”
People who kept careful account of the sunsets and sunrises would observe that, after the winter solstice, the light would definitely return, ever so slightly earlier each day.  And about four days into this pattern, when it seemed certain that the sun would not disappear forever, there was a celebration of the return of the light.  The Norsemen celebrated Yule, and the Romans, Saturn.
Christians established the celebration of the birth of Jesus at this same time — a perfect match for celebration of the one who was to be known as the Light of the World.
So that’s the season we are entering into this week:  Advent.  As days shorten, we look forward to the return of the light, and to the celebration of the birth of The Light.
Some define this season as a time of waiting. Others prefer to think of it as a time of preparing.  Advent calls on us to find a middle ground. Waiting is too passive, but preparation, in modern society’s terms, is exhausting.
 Supposed we start with this question:  what are we preparing for?  The birth of Jesus?  No, not really.  (Spoiler alert…) He’s already been born.  He won’t be born this Christmas, or ever again.
The Advent preparation is an inner preparing: Jesus has been born already, but Christ can be born in us more deeply each day.  The Incarnation is the Word made flesh — Jesus is its human expression, and the Risen Christ is the forever-reality of God living in the world and in us. 
The only thing that we need to do is open up — be ready to welcome, again and again, the presence of Christ in our own life and in others, to revel, rejoice, and celebrate in the hope and mercy and love that God reveals in Christ. 
This season of inner preparation is an opportunity to internalize our faith — to learn to live it from within, instead of letting it work on us like some external constraint or framework.
      This Advent is going to be interesting.  Depending on the content of your particular news bubble, there is either nothing to buy or Americans are spending at record levels.  It’s very common to claim that Christmas is too commercial. It probably is.  But this Advent, try to find some time each day to prepare by turning inward: see how Christ is already in your life, and how your are becoming more aware of it will enrich you and those around you. 
Do the shopping that you need to do, and don’t feel guilty about it.  If you like to throw parties, throw them,    but take the time each day to put every activity in this   season of preparation into the context of inner faith.  Be aware, as you shop, cook, bake, travel, or sit in a quiet place reading a good book, that it is Christ we celebrate, Christ who gives us hope, Christ whom others seek in their experience of us.