¶I have always celebrated Advent, even when I had to fight to do it. I softened my stance through the years as far as hymns and carols, however, never enough to satisfy everyone who was ready for Christmas. There was often more heat than light in the discussions, with plenty of guilt on both sides of the conversation. This year, I have had some time and distance to consider what it is about Advent that makes it an important part of the preparation for Christmas. ¶American culture begins celebrating Christmas as early as July, and I am good with that. I enjoy Christmas music, peace on earth, and goodwill to all. It is too bad we don’t keep Christmas in our hearts all year. The Church lives by a different rhythm. In the lectionary cycle, a three-year series of Scripture readings, we remember the arc of salvation history from beginning to end. More accurately, we remember salvation history from end to end. The season of Advent begins the cycle. The first Sunday of Advent tells of the end of the world as we know it. It seems a downright stupid place to start. My dad taught me to begin a wedding rehearsal at the end. ‘Place everyone where they are going to be at the end of the service. That way they will know where they are heading as they process up the aisle.’ ¶Beginning at the end is not the usual way to tell a story. For those who are hurt, frightened, oppressed, downtrodden, it is a great source of comfort to know that, while the story plays out with some bad things happening, the people of God win because in the end God wins. Knowing what happens to us, helps us weather the storms we encounter on the way. ¶The other Sundays of Advent continue to be less than cheery. John the Baptist tells us that we are in trouble with God and desperately in need of repentance before we can ever meet the Savior. The third week, John calls us all snakes/vipers who run the risk of being among those who will be burned up like chaff, unless we straighten up and fly right. Not the merriest of thoughts while we are trying to keep the smiles on our faces through traffic jams and crowds of people, through supply chain breakdowns, back orders, and other forms of delay that just might ruin Christmas. Week four of this year, Mary runs to visit Elizabeth to avoid the possibility of being stoned to death for a pregnancy before her actual marriage to Joseph. Mary and Elizabeth do get to celebrate together that God has seen fit to trust them with these special lives they carry. In all of this there is an undercurrent of danger and the possibility of death for many. ¶Advent reminds us that Jesus does not come to world that is ready and waiting, with packages wrapped and bows tied as neatly as department store professionals manage to do it. Nope, Jesus comes into a world that is broken, and unkind to those who most need the support of the world. Jesus comes to the outcast, the disabled, the downtrodden and offers them hope that those of us who have more than enough will find it in our hearts to share some of our bounty more than twice a year, and as more than a gesture to salve our consciences. Jesus comes to flip over tables and drive out all those who have taken the place of God in our lives. ¶Advent is a little slower than the season outside the Church. In Advent we are waiting with anticipation rather than scurrying and shopping. We look to our hearts rather than our wallets to see if we can afford to welcome Jesus into our lives, knowing that he comes to carry out a counter cultural revolution. Jesus is intent on calling us to God. We are not being called out of the world, we are being called into the world, to stand with those who need us rather than to support those who promise to help us get the next bigger, better toy/tool/machine/item. ¶While I am happy to join the celebration of Christmas, beginning in June or the day after Thanksgiving, I am also moved to celebrate the season of Advent. Advent reminds me that there are those around me, as well as those who have been pushed to the fringes of society, who do not experience any joy at Christmas or any other time of the year. Advent reminds me to use my voice, my vote, my time, energy, all the resources I have available to change the systems that cause and contribute to the poverty that many experience. ¶Sing ‘Joy to the World,’ ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas,’ and all the other Christmas songs and carols that bring joy to this season. At the same time, I commend singing ‘Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,’ and ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,’ and other Advent hymns to serve as a reminder that we are a world in need of a Savior.