Let There Be Light
Advent begins in the beginning
In stillness, in emptiness, in nothingness
A blanket of silence, an overpowering absence
A void, a vacuum, the universe a blank canvas
But where darkness covered
The Spirit hovered
His Fullness filled the emptiness
His Presence overshadowed the absence
His Shadow covered over the stillness
His Voice broke the silence
And into the night, He spoke,
Let there be Light.
(Genesis 1)
The prophet saw his people walking in a land of deep darkness
Wandering lost, broken and blind
Watching for a glimmer of hope
Waiting for the sun to shine
And into the night, he spoke,
Wait, just wait, for the Light.
(Isaiah 9)
The angel appeared to Mary
In a time of oppression, injustice, unrest.
Her people yearning and aching, longing and waiting
For someone to save them from their distress.
He announced this way of salvation, a strange declaration,
Good news of peace and great joy
A virgin girl to deliver the Light of the world
The hopes and fears of all the years… met in a baby boy.
And into the night, he spoke
Behold, the Light has come.
(Luke 1)
And still today, where darkness covers, the Spirit hovers
Over the losses, over the longings, over the long journey
And in our weakness, and in this stillness
His Light still comes every morning
This Advent, may His presence overshadow even our darkest shadows
May we look and long for Him to come
May we hope and may we know
That His Light shines in the darkness and darkness will not overcome
(John 1)
An advent practice:
Light a candle and sit in the dark, watch the flame flicker,
And invite the Spirit of Hope to sit with you there.
