“Prophetic waiting looks eagerly for signs of God’s salvation in our midst; it looks backward remembering God’s glorious salvation in the past; forward to the time in the future when it will break forth again; and all around us for signs of its presence now.” (The Meaning is in the Waiting, by Paula Gooder, p. 58)
In many ways this quote demonstrates a classic understanding of Advent–watching for signs of God’s salvation in the past, present and future. And that is good and true. But sometimes I wonder what this really looks like today. What are these “all around us” signs of God’s salvation now?
My Facebook stream gives me a very biased commentary on what’s going on in the world. So as I scroll through the last few weeks, I wonder what the signs of God’s salvation in the present are: Is it the group of people gathered in Minneapolis in solidarity and protest for the sake of justice? Is it some of my more conservative Christian friends agreeing with my more liberal Christian friends about the need to stand with and speak up on behalf of refugees and immigrants, and to speak against a disturbing public perception of Christianity as being closed, narrow, and judgmental? Is it communities coming together to organize challenging the system and affecting positive change in significant, systemic ways? Are these the signs of God’s salvation?
I have to admit that, with the disciples and probably others of Jesus’ day, I wonder why the signs of God’s salvation aren’t a little bit more cosmic. It’s all fine and good to point to the relatively small things in my life and say that “the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” It’s all find and good to point to a handful of community, national and even global events or movements and say, “the Light shines in the darkness (or at least is sure trying to) and the darkness (we hope) has not (or won’t ultimately) overcome it.” But what are the signs of God’s salvation for those caught smack dab in the darkness? What does this Advent and Christmas season mean for them? And will there really be a day when it’s more than this??
“It is this light shining in the darkness for which we wait,” says Gooder, “and the season of Advent calls us to readjust our eyes in that darkness so that we can see glimmers of the Light of the World, glowing and pointing us forward to that ultimate time in the future when everything will be fulfilled” (p. 63). I get it…at least conceptually. But in the midst of the reality, I’m grateful for Advent hymns like this one…which I don’t think we sing often enough:
Lost in the Night (ELW #243)
Lost in the night do the people yet languish
Longing for meaning the darkness to vanquish
Plaintively sighing with hearts full of anguish
Will not day come soon? Will not day come soon?
Must we be vainly awaiting the morrow?
Shall those who have light no light let us borrow,
Giving no heed to our burden of sorrow?
Will you help us soon? Will you help us soon?
Sorrowing wand’rers in darkness yet dwelling
Dawned has the day of a radiance excelling
Death’s deepest shadows forever dispelling.
Christ is coming soon! Christ is coming soon!
Light o’er the land of the needy is beaming
Riers of life through its deserts are streaming,
Bringing all peoples a Savior redeeming.
Come and save us soon! Come and save us soon!