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Friday in the First Week of Advent

December 8, 2023

Jesus said, “In those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from heaven,

and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. -Mark 13:24-27

         The Gospel of Mark describes the second coming of Jesus in ways that induce fear, but also hope. Advent can be a wonderful time for reflection and meditation, which is in contrast to the often-hectic frenzy and flurry of holiday activities which the world around me encourages my full participation.

          But when I listen to the readings every Sunday, I hear stories not only about the coming birth of Jesus but also judgments at the end of days. I am confronted by this dichotomy every Advent, yet sometimes I want to ignore it, focusing only on the ‘good’ parts of Advent. However, to fully live into the wonderful mystery of Advent, I must embrace this juxtaposition.

            I find darkness and light a recurring theme in my life this time of year. As the days grow shorter, and I am enveloped in darkness earlier and earlier, I combat this darkness by adding light to my world: twinkling lights, the soft glow of lamps, the progressive lighting of candles around the Advent wreath. In Sunday’s Collect, we ask God to “give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light” both now and in the time to come. I look—with hope— to the foretold return of the Light of the World which I know will overcome all manner of darkness.

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The author, Catherine Saxe, is Canon for Ministry and Mission

for the Diocese of West Virginia