I love looking at the stars. Since I grew up in Atlanta, GA, you can imagine that there aren’t many stars that can be seen in the night sky. Only the brightest are seen on any given night.
And, while I enjoyed hearing the stories of the constellations, I never really remembered or could spot many of them — except the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper is wonderful. It can be seen in so many places and is easy to recognize. In fact, I tell my kids – if you’re not sure it’s the Big Dipper, then it’s not.
Often times as we walk the dog at night I’ll say – “Hey! There’s the Big Dipper!” It’s fun to look for. And looking for the Big Dipper reminds me of looking for the coming Christ. Sometimes I have to wait to see it. Sometimes it’s in a different place in the sky. Sometimes it’s brighter or dimmer, but even when it’s not apparent, I know it’s still there.
During Advent we celebrate this waiting time as we look for Jesus to enter the world. We also look for Jesus to return again. As we wait, we journey together looking for the glimmers of God in our midst.
The prophets remind us of the hope that God’s promises provide for us. Hope is not always readily visible, but because of God’s constant and abiding love – the love that conquered death, we know that hope can shine through.
On the second Sunday of Advent, we consider Bethlehem, the city of David where the promised child is to be born. We believe and have faith that Jesus will come again to this world just as God came the first time to fulfill the promises of the lineage of David.
The shepherds and the mother Mary resound with joy on the third week of Advent. Mary proclaims her joy at Jesus’ coming – announcing that Jesus is good news for the poor and outcast like the shepherds on the hillside.
On the fourth Sunday of Advent we see the angels come to sing of God’s peace on earth and goodwill to all.
Finally on Christmas Eve we will remember the love that entered the world for us on Christmas morning.
Come, join us this year to watch and wait for the celebration of Christ in this world! And as we wait for his coming again, I’m sure we’ll be able to say “Hey! There’s the love of Christ!”
Blessings and Peace,
Katherine