A lot happens before Christmas!
by Jo Corney
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There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light (John 1:6,7).
Read John 1:6–8,19–28
It is a week until we celebrate Christmas! There’s a lot that occurs before Christmas arrives. Where we live, Christmas lights abound for weeks before Christmas, alerting me to its coming! There are many homes adorned with extravagant displays of colourful flashing lights. While I view Christmas lights, I look for nativity scenes, stars or angels. As I await Christmas, I am on the lookout for these lights to bear witness to the Christmas story where we remember the first coming of Jesus.
Compared to how many light displays I see, there are comparatively few of the traditional symbols of Christmas. However, I see many homes decorated with white lights only. These present differently to the variegated hues. The white is complete in its elegance – I want to gaze on these as I enjoy their impact. They clearly dispel the darkness by their shining, where the coloured lights create a muddy blue tone around them. They are still pretty, but I find they have a different impact than the warm or cool white lights.
As I reflect on our reading for today, I see the preparation for Jesus. We see John the Baptist, who came before Jesus as a witness to testify concerning Jesus, who is known as the ‘light of the world’. We are in the final week of Advent – our time of waiting that comes before Christmas when we remember the first arrival and the promised second coming of Jesus to our earth.
This year, I hope my experience of this time leading up to Christmas will find me ‘bearing witness concerning the light’. I hope to embrace Advent rather than wish it away so that I am encouraged and refreshed in the ‘light’ of Jesus in my personal space of faith. I hope for this so that when Christmas arrives, my experience of it is as full as possible – full because the lead up to it has had witness born in me, to me and by me, concerning the ‘light of the world’ – Jesus.
Every blessing for your Advent journey into Christmas.
Loving Lord, please refresh in us the sense of you, ever for us and with us, as we journey to Christmas and always. In the name of Christ, Amen.
Jo Corney is an active member of the LCANZ in Queensland. She has served over many years in voluntary parish pastoral care, ministry and development and representative roles. Over recent years she has been privileged to serve in the delivery of chaplaincy for Lutheran Services.
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