A Cosmic Advent

I awoke from sleep this morning thinking about the miracle of the solar system. Don’t ask me why. Maybe it was the golden full moon I saw on Wednesday night as I drove to a friend’s house for a birthday party. Maybe because Venus brightly illuminates the sky when I walk my dog in the darkness. Whatever the case, I was delighted because I usually wake up worrying about relationships.

December, my favorite month of the whole year, has arrived, and with it, the first Sunday of Advent. I have written a lot about this liturgical season over the years but mysteriously, something new forever emerges. Waking with thoughts of the solar system is, to me, a signal of transcendence, an invitation to contemplate Advent in a more cosmic way. What a wonder to begin this cherished time daydreaming about the phenomenon of the earth rotating on its axis as the seasons change, our planet orbiting dutifully around the sun, and the days getting shorter and darker until Winter Solstice (December 21), and the glorious coming of the light.

From early in December, I can intentionally ponder, once again, the great arrival story of the Incarnation, “God with us,” which has echoed through the origins of the universe, back to the Big Bang. Advent arrives silently and quietly allowing me to slip into the deep whenever the cultural hype gets too overwhelming. Advent beckons me to return to the ancient story of the Light of the World which has captivated millions for centuries. What a relief!  And yet, in some ways, the Season of Advent can be more difficult to practice than Lent because it is so counter-cultural.

People “need a little Christmas” and it seems as though they need it earlier and earlier every year. Granted, we are highly influenced by a consumer society but I think our rush into the Christmas season is driven more by a deep longing for celebration, a lost art in my humble opinion. Alas, considering the implications of the story of the “Cosmic Christ,” we should presumably celebrate the Incarnation every day, not just in December. Unfortunately, we do not know how to do that very well.

Last week, some friends and I got together to prepare ourselves for Advent. We gazed at the painting “Ancient Days” by William Blake (see above) and other depictions of the the Old Testament prophets, the Annunciation, Visitation, and the Nativity. We listened to some soulful music and read inspiring poems and Scripture readings. Immediately, a palpable sense of the real presence of Christ stirred among us. Caught up in the artistic imagination left behind in these beautiful works, we felt cosmically connected in a timeless way. We realized once again that the ancient story of Jesus is our story, found easily with the heightened awareness and attentiveness that Advent provides.

As we enter into a very short Advent season this year (the fourth week is only one day), I invite you to take a few leisurely walks and gaze at the sky. Listen to some music, read some edifying poems and novels, look at works of art. Consider that despite our tininess in a vast universe, we share specks of stardust with all creation, including the Holy One, who, because of the Incarnation, holds the core of existence together in love. May you awaken each day with a constellation of new insights on your mind and heart this Advent and Christmas season!