Advent Connect 2018

Advent Week 4: Christmas Eve

“...proclaim the greatness of this day: the immaterial becomes incarnate, the Word is made flesh, the invisible makes itself seen, the intangible can be touched, the timeless has a beginning, the Son of God becomes the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, always the same, yesterday, today and forever...

This is the solemnity we are celebrating today: the arrival of God among us, so that we might go to God, or more precisely, return to him. So that stripping off the old humanity we might put on the new; as in Adam we are dead, so in Christ we might be made alive, be born with him, rise with him...A miracle, not of creation, but of recreation...For this feast is my perfecting, my returning to my former state, to the original Adam...

Revere the nativity which releases you from the chains of evil. Honor this tiny Bethlehem which restores Paradise to you. Venerate this crib; because of it you who were deprived of meaning are fed by the divine Meaning, the Divine Logos himself.” —Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 38, For Christmas

Advent Week 4: Sunday

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
On those living in the land of darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

“That which was from the beginning,
Which we have heard,
Which we have seen with our eyes,
Which we have looked at and our eyes have touched—
This we proclaim concerning the Word of Life.
The life appeared;
We have seen it and testify to it,
And we proclaim to you the eternal life,
Which was with the Father and has appeared to us....
This is the message we heard from him and declare to you:
God is light;
In him there is no darkness at all.”
1 John 1:1-3,5

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Augustine of Hippo wrote:
“In his light is found a light
That nothing can darken.
Desire that light which your eyes know not!”

Advent Week 3: Saturday

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.... Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given...grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:14, 16, 17

Grace, “charis” in Greek, means to bestow favor or express kindness as from a superior to an inferior. Somehow through Christ we have received grace, Gods abundant favor. God is not against us, but for us, as Paul writes in Romans. “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all —how will he not also, along with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32

Grace is the expression of God’s love, which is without limit. “I pray that you...may have the power...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.” Ephesians 3:17-19

Advent Week 3: Friday

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14

“The Word made himself ‘bearer of the flesh’ in order that human beings might become ‘bearers of the Spirit.’” Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation and Against the Arians.

“By means of Christ who is man, you proceed to Christ who is God. God is indeed beyond us. But he has become man. What was far from us has become, by the mediation of a man very near. He is the God in whom you dwell. He is the man by whom you must reach him. Christ is at once the way you must follow and the goal you must reach. He is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.” Augustine of Hippo, Sermons

Advent Week 3: Thursday

“When they (magi) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So, he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” Matthew 2:13-15

Matthew quotes the prophet Hosea, who said: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me.” Hosea 11:1-2

Is it not ironic that the Son of God was exiled to the land where his forefathers were enslaved? The contrast is that, although Israel was delivered from Egypt, they were never free, as Jesus said, “He who sins is a slave to sin.” Although the country of Israel was called, they did not heed the call. Whereas, Jesus did heed the call.

The Son of God entered into the land of slavery in order to deliver those enslaved. “How could humanity on earth, enslaved by death, recover its wholeness? It was necessary to give to dead flesh the ability to share in the life-giving power of God. Now the life-giving power of God is the Word, the only Son. He it was whom God sent to us as Savior and Liberator...He, though he is Life by nature, took a body subject to decay in order to destroy in it the power of death and transform it into life.” —Cyril of Alexandria, Homily on Luke

Advent Week 3: Wednesday

“Having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, [the Magi] returned to their own country by another route....When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.” Matthew 2:12,16

How is it that the birth of the Savior Child results in the death of so many other children? There is an injustice here! Yet the tragedy is not the fault of the Coming One, but that of the powers that be who are threatened by the coming of another King. It is this kind of injustice and abuse the Child came to undo.

Jesus quoted Isaiah when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19.

He proclaimed a new way of living, as he said to his disciples, “the rulers...lord it over them...Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28

Advent Week 3: Tuesday

The magi, “on coming to the house, they saw the child and his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Isaiah previously prophesied that people would come to Israel “bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.” Isaiah 60:6

Gold, the currency of kings; frankincense, the fragrance of worship; myrrh, the resin of death and healing. All are symbolic of the life of Jesus. He has been called King of Kings, High Priest, Great Healer, Suffering Servant and Crucified Savior.

Later, as Jesus was starting his ministry, he was tempted by power and riches, but resisted it. As Paul wrote, “though he was rich (in the heavenly realms), yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9

Advent Week 3: Monday

“Even in darkness light dawns....” Psalm 112:4

“...the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.” 1 John 2:8. NIV

“I have come into this world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46. NIV

“In him was life and that life was the light of all mankind.... The true light that gives life to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:4,9. NIV

It is impossible to escape the metaphors of light and darkness with the coming of Christ. St. Paul wrote that God “made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” and “you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 4:6, Ephesians 5:8

The Star of Bethlehem, the Morning Star, is the light born into darkness that gives light to every heart.

Advent Week 3: Sunday

“I am... the Bright Morning Star.” Rev. 22:2

“Magi came from the east to Jerusalem, and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose...’”. Matthew 2:2

Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Balaam said, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob....” Numbers 24:17

Solomon asked, “Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?” Song of Songs 6:10

Referring to the ancient prophecies, Peter answers the question: “...pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19

The star the wise men sought was not in the celestial skies, but within their hearts. “The sun that shines there (in the soul) is the light of the Trinity. The air breathed by the entering thoughts is the Holy Spirit the Comforter....Their life, their joy, the cause for celebration is Christ the light of the Father’s light. Such a person rejoices every hour in the contemplation of his soul, and marvels at the beauty that appears, a hundred times brighter than the brightness of the sun...That is the kingdom of God hidden within us....” Isaac of Nineveh Ascetic Treatises

Morning star, rise within us...

Advent Week 2: Saturday

“All who heard...were amazed...and Mary treasured up these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:18-19.

The mystery of the incarnation is not something which can be grasped with the mind, but rather grasps the heart.

“The incarnation is ‘a mystery even more inconceivable than any other. By taking flesh God makes himself understood only by appearing more incomprehensible.” Maximus the Confessor, Ambigua

“By the love of Christ for us...the Superessential gave up his mystery, and manifested himself by assuming humanity. However, in spite of this manifestation...he loses nothing of his mysteriousness. For the mystery of Jesus has remained hidden. No reason and no intelligence have fathomed his essential nature. In whatever way he is understood, he remains utterly mysterious.” Dionysius the Areopagite, Letter 3, To Gaius

Ponder the mystery in your heart...

Advent Week 2: Friday

To the shepherds the angels proclaimed, “On earth peace, good will towards men.” Luke 2:14. KJV

Isaiah prophesied, “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” Isaiah 9:7

The advent of Christ is the beginning of a new government, but not as most supposed. “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36. “The kingdom of God,” which Jesus preached, “is within.” Luke 17:21. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.... I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.” John 14:27, 16:33

Paul ends his letter to the Romans with “The God of peace be with you all.” Romans 15:33. Peace is the nature of God and peace is what Christ came to give.

Advent Week 2: Thursday

“For to us a child is born.... And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NIV

”There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:8-11. NIV

”Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14 NIV

The angels proclaimed Good News. So good that it will bring great joy to all the people. What is this news? A Savior has been born. The Messiah, the Anointed, the Chosen One, the Lord.

Days later, they encountered Simeon, a righteous and devout man, whom upon seeing Jesus praised God declaring, “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all the nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:30-32. NIV

My eyes have seen your salvation...a light...your glory.

Advent Week 2: Wednesday

“She...wrapped Him in swaddling cloths...”. Luke 2:2. NKJV

Gregory of Nyssa, in the fourth century, expounded upon the concept of being clothed:

“That God should have clothed himself with our nature is a fact that should not seem strange or extravagant to minds that do not form too paltry an idea of reality. Who, looking at the universe, would be so feeble-minded as to not believe that God is all in all; that he clothes himself with the universe, and at the same time contains it and dwells in it? What exists depends on Him who exists, and nothing can exist except in the bosom of Him who is.

“If then all is in him and he is in all, why blush for the faith that teaches us that one day God was born in the human condition, God who still today exists in humanity?” Catechetical Orations

Advent Week 2: Tuesday

“...and she gave birth to her firstborn....”. Luke 2:7

“As it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord.’” Luke 2:23

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Colossians 1:15

His position as “firstborn” implies additional born. Indeed, we too are his children, as Christ is “the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29). Our birth “is not of natural descent...but born of God.” (John 1:13)

Our birth is a rebirth, an adoption so to speak, into the family of God. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born from above.... born of the Spirit.” John 3:7-8 NET

”This is the reason why the Word of God was made flesh, and the Son of God became the Son of Man: so that we might enter into communion with the Word of God, and by receiving adoption might become Sons of God. Indeed we should not be able to share in immortality without a close union with the Immortal. How could we have united ourselves with immortality if immortality had not become what we are, in such a way that we should be absorbed by it, and thus we should be adopted as Sons of God?” —Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies.

Advent Week 2: Monday

God is with us. The mystery of deity and humanity fused.

“Now in those days a decree went out.... Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, the City of David. While there, the time came for her delivery and she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1-7 paraphrased.

“Though he existed in the form of God, [he] did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.” Philippians 2:6-7 NET

”His love for me brought low his greatness.
He made himself like me so that I might receive him.
He made himself like me so that I might be clothed in him.
I had no fear when I saw him,
for he is mercy for me.
He took my nature so that I might understand him,
my face so that I should not turn away from him.”
—Odes of Solomon 7

The Son of God became the Son of Man....

Advent Week 2: Sunday

“But you, Bethlehem, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” Matthew 2:6, quoting the prophet Micah.

During his ministry, when Jesus saw the crowds, “he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36.

The shepherd guides and protects the sheep. The prophet Ezekiel looked forward to the day of which he prophesied: “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.... I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind the injured and strengthen the weak.... I will shepherd the flock with justice.... I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.” Ezekiel 34:11-23

“I am the good shepherd.” John 10:11

Advent Week 1: Saturday

Mary said, “I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

A few weeks later, Mary went to stay with her relative, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear.” Luke 1:41-42.

Five hundred years later, James of Sarug composed a hymn celebrating the Virgin:

“Blessed is she: through her the race of Adam has been restored, and those who had deserted the Father’s house have been brought back...
Blessed is she: within the bounds of her body was contained the Boundless One who fills the heavens, which cannot contain him.
Blessed is she: in giving our life to the common Ancestor, the Father of Adam, she renewed fallen creatures.
Blessed is she: she gave her womb to him who lets loose the waves of the sea.
Blessed is she: she has born the mighty giant who has sustained the world, she has embraced him and covered him with kisses.
Blessed is she: she has raised up for the prisoners a deliverer who overcame their gaoler.
Blessed is she: her lips have touched him whose blazing has made angels of fire recoil.
Blessed is she: she has fed with her milk him who gives life to the whole world.
Blessed is she: for to her Son the saints all owe their happiness.
Blessed be the Holy One of God who has sprung from thee.”
—Hymn to the Mother of God

Advent Week 1: Friday

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God,” announced the angel to Mary. Luke 1:35

Clearly, this was no ordinary child. In fact, the Son of Mary, preceded Mary. He not only came from God, but was God himself, as John relates: “...the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father.” John 1:18

This pre-existent trinitarian relationship continues to mystify and baffle us. As Jesus said in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.”

Maximus the Confessor pondered on this, saying “The Father was wholly in the Son when he fulfilled by his incarnation the mystery of our salvation. Indeed, the Father was not himself incarnate, but he was united to the incarnation of the Son. And the Spirit was wholly in the Son, without indeed being incarnate with him, but acting in complete unity with him in this mysterious incarnation.” Questions to Thalassius.

Even more amazing in this incarnation is our inclusion. “I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:20

“I... came down from heaven.” John 6:51

“Before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:58

Advent Week 1: Thursday

Centuries earlier, the prophet Isaiah prophesied, “For to us a child is born.... and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NIV

A single name cannot encompass this Child of Destiny. We find him referred to as:

Almighty One
Alpha and Omega
Bread of Life
Good Shepherd
King of Kings
Savior
Messiah
Mighty One of Jacob
Redeemer
Creator
Resurrection and the Life
Way
Truth
Life
True Vine
Beloved Son
Lord of Glory
Lion of Judah
Lamb of God
Immanuel
Son of God
Son of Man
Son of David
Root of Jesse
Master
Lord
Second Adam
Logos (Word)
King of the Jews
Light of the World
Bead of Life
Rabbi

I Am

Advent Week 1: Wednesday

“The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” ‭‭-Isaiah‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NIV
‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When Mary and Joseph were betrothed, Mary was found to be pregnant, but Joseph knew the child was not his, so he was going to break off the engagement. But, an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins…and they will call him Immanuel.” -Matthew 1:20-21, 23 NIV

Jesus, which means the Lord is Salvation, is Immanuel, which means God with us. The Incarnate Word is with us.

Immanuel has been Gods desire from the beginning, when in the Garden of Eden, God and man walked together. In the end, in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, it says, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” -Rev. 21:3.

Immanuel. God is with us.

Advent Week 1: Tuesday

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made by him, the world did not recognize him.”

Much later, after his resurrection, Jesus was walking with a couple disciples on the road to Emmaus. As he spoke to them, their hearts were burning within, but they did not recognize him...until he broke the bread.

Someone once said, “We do not know what we do not know.” Until God reveals himself to us, we do not know. St. Paul wrote that God had “to reveal his Son in me...” before he could preach the gospel (Gal. 1:16). There is a “veil” that covers the hearts and dulls the mind which only Christ can remove. (2 Cor. 5:14)

“Christ is the great hidden mystery, the blessed goal, the purpose for which everything was created.” —Maximus the Confessor, Questions to Thalassius.

As Paul prays, “may the eyes of our heart be enlightened....”. Eph. 1:18.

Advent Week 1: Monday

In the fullness of time, God entered the world and spoke.

"He has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:2-3.

"There is only one God, revealed by Jesus Christ his Son who is his Word sprung from silence..." --Ignatius of Antioch

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." John 1:14.
In the seventh century, Maximus the Confessor said, "The Word is concentrated and takes bodily form...[to] teach us...the knowledge of holy and hidden things, which surpasses all language..."

The Son, the Word of God, incarnated as a human being.

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Advent Week 1: Sunday

One of the liturgies of the ancient Church proclaimed the Advent of Christ as follows:

"You have visited in many ways, in the loving-kindness of your heart: you sent the prophets, you worked mighty wonders through the saints... You gave us the help of the Law. You charged angels to watch over us. And, when the fullness of time came, you spoke to us through your own Son..."

St. Paul writes, "When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman..." (Galatians 4:4, ESV)

"Fullness of time" carries the connotation of a pregnant woman who has finally reached the moment of birth. Luke tells us that in the days of Caesar Augustus, Joseph and Mary went to the City of David and the time came for her to deliver a child, who is "Christ the Lord." The fullness of time had come for Mary. But it is so much more than this.

It's as if history had been building to this moment. What Providence had started from the beginning of time was now coming to fruition. The Universe was pregnant and ready to give birth. The World was the womb, the moment had come and God entered into humanity.