Currently, summer is in full swing, and the humidity is rising! Even rain does not dissipate the humidity! I am certainly thankful for air conditioning and a basement office that stays cool. As you may be looking forward to a new school year that is rapidly approaching, or a end of summer vacation, or thinking about how to get out of the heat – let’s look again at where we are in our spiritual journey. In my last blog, I laid out the significance and rationale for following the Church year.
Before unpacking the Cycle of Light let me say that many people utilize a variety of devotionals and guides that assist in a better understanding of the Bible and meditate on the things of God. These are also wonderful tools and should be employed. I don’t mean to discredit any of them.
The Seasons of the Christian Year is a roadmap for assisting us in our spiritual journey of knowing, understanding, and becoming a deeper follower of Jesus. The season begins with Advent and is followed by Christmas and Epiphany. It is through these seasons that the church can get back to a fuller, deeper and more meaningful worship.
A most helpful way of looking at the seasons, then, is to recognize two cycles. The Cycle of Light focuses on Christ, the Light of the World, and includes the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.
The second cycle is the Cycle of Life and includes the seasons of Lent, Holy Week, Easter and Pentecost. This season recalls Jesus’ death and resurrection (John 15:18-25).
Both cycles help us in our spiritual journey. Life is not lived on a single, flat plane. There are often roadblocks, highs and lows, unexpected surprises. Life events happen, both good and bad. Spiritually, we also experience times of great joy in our relationship with God, and others. We also experience times of great sadness, maybe even despair. We can question God about our feelings, why is this or that happening. Understanding that our spiritual life is also impacted by our physical life and if our spirit is firmly anchored to the Rock of our salvation, we can navigate through the storms. Scripture helps us do that. Worshiping in community helps us. Recognizing the seasons of life helps us through. Often, when we are in those times of stress and distress, we can find words in scripture that speak for us. The Psalms can be our best source of comfort and strength. Scripture can also speak wonderful words of joy, praise, and exaltation into our lives.
Advent begins 40 days before Christmas, or the 4 Sundays before Christmas day. The first Sunday generally falls on the last Sunday of November. In many churches and in homes, people will light a candle to symbolize each of the Sundays. These 4 Sundays are a journey. We begin in the past, at a distance looking at the anticipation of the Messiah. We recall how Israel anticipated his coming. We also anticipate his second coming, as he promised. I like to use the theme of HOPE to characterize the first week of Advent. We eagerly await his coming again. We long for his coming. We look forward to the day of his coming. When he comes, it will be the redemption of all things.
As such, we are called to live lives that are holy and godly. Scriptures for this week reflect our Hope and anticipation of his return and call us into living worthily.
The second week I like to use the theme of PEACE. Two candles are lit as we progress in our journey toward Christmas day. The first candle, again, is a symbol of our hope. The second candle symbolizes that Messiah would bring peace and love to the world. Certainly, this is what the Israelites were looking for. But they got it wrong and misunderstood their own prophets. They were looking for a messiah that would redeem them from their physical oppressors. When Messiah came, he came to heal their spiritual wounds and give peace to their souls.
Lighting candles helps us see, through the use of symbols, the progression of what is to come. It builds in us the anticipation of a great celebration!
The third Sunday is all about JOY. The joy in hearing the good news that Messiah is coming soon! The joy that reminds us of the hope and peace that he brings. The candle for this week is pink and is a symbol that signifies ‘joy’.
The fourth Sunday signifies LOVE. The love we find in the baby who came to fulfill the prophecies of old. He came to show us a better way to live, to love our neighbors, to live in peace with one another, and to celebrate our God, who demonstrated his great love toward us all by sending his one and only Son to be the Savior of the world.
The fall feasts will also soon be upon us! What a wonderful season to lead into the new church year! Stay tuned!
Shalom!
P.S. With all the news of more atrocities coming out of Israel, would you please consider helping with the war effort? Any amount helps families that are displaced because of the war on many fronts in Israel. Thank you for loving and giving generously!
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