Advent Sight: Finally... yet still more waiting

Carviaggio’s Adoration of the Shepherd 1609

Have you ever held your breath waiting for something, and then, finally… let it out. Exhaling in relief - and exhaustion. Finally.

Advent Sight as Holy Sight helps us to perceive – to see what otherwise appears unrecognizable.

Maybe we should write a new hymn called Advent Sight, Holy Sight, because seeing this way requires a bit of grace and a bit of the holy infusing our senses.

For shepherds to find the stable and worship a baby as the world’s savior required them to perceive beyond what they could see. For magi to follow the star to the home of Joseph and Mary and present gifts to a baby king not found in a palace required them to suspend expectations – especially after their initial expectations led them to a palace without a baby king. Even so, their lives charted different courses after their encounters with the baby.

We encounter Advent Sight as Holy Sight in other parts of scripture, especially when God’s saving action occurs in unlikely ways or through unlikely people.

We encounter Advent Sight as Holy Sight in the resurrection of Jesus. In John’s Gospel we see two occurrences in which Jesus’s followers do not recognize him the first time they encountered him after the resurrection. First, Mary mistakes Jesus for the gardener, yet she recognizes him when Jesus speaks her name. Second, the fishing disciples return to shore wondering about a stranger, yet they recognize him as he prepares and serves them breakfast. Mary hears her name, and the fishermen receive a meal – ways they encountered Jesus throughout their time with him. It may not look like the same person, yet they know it is Jesus because he encounters them in a distinct and familiar way.

I wonder how Advent Sight as Holy Sight will help us perceive God’s action in the world and relationships around us. I wonder if the annoying encounter I recently had actually invites me to see someone struggling and respond to him with God’s grace and love.

I wonder how Advent Sight as Holy Sight will help us to perceive God’s active presence as we wait for the world to start turning again – or more precisely said, realize that the world never stopped turning, God never stopped loving or acting. God continues to invites us to join the Holy work of healing the world.

As the calendar turns, I wonder how we can call some people’s names in love and compassion, and in so doing they could hear God’s loving, faithful call to them…

I wonder how we can serve neighbors directly through preparing meals or taking out garbage or shopping for them; or indirectly by giving to missionaries and ministries serving vulnerable people in our communities and around the world…

I wonder how our Advent Sight can become Holy Sight, this Christmas and this coming year…