Advent: What and who are we waiting for? And why?

from Google Images

          There are only two instances of “waiting” listed in the volume, Where to Find It in the Bible: the Ultimate A to Z Resource, by Ken Anderson, published by Nelson:  

            When God made his promise to Abraham, he swore by himself, because he had no one greater to swear by: 'I vow that I will bless you abundantly and multiply your descendants.’ Thus it was that Abraham, after patient waiting, attained the promise. ––Hebrews 6: 13-1

            The other is in Genesis 29:20ff. Jacob waited––and worked seven years to gain the hand of Rachel. The rest of the story is worth re-reading. While Laban surreptitiously sent Leah to Jacob by night, Jacob found out and was furious with his uncle. Jacob had to work––and wait–– seven more years to earn Rachel’s hand. Altogether, Jacob stayed with Laban twenty years, though not all of it was “waiting.”

            How––and how long––do we wait? Do we wait in exasperation while the computer wakes up? Yes. Or when searching for something we put away yesterday and forgot where? Yes.

            Or do we wait in dread when our teenagers are two hours past curfew and it’s senior prom night? Or when we hear sirens and wonder if it’s someone we know and love?

            Or do we wait in excitement because our out-of-state children are coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Or because a family member has decided to re-enter the loving fold?

            D. Todd Williamson, of the Chicago Archdiocese office of Divine Worship believes it’s the latter kind of excitement that we are called to during Advent. He also believes we should wait in joyful hope:

           “At Mass, (or during church for us United Methodists) after praying the Lord’s Prayer, we hear “. . . as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” This prayer reminds us that during Advent, we wait in joy, in hope, and in anticipation for the wonderful event we are about to experience— . . . the coming of Christ into our lives in new ways, the return of Christ in glory at the end of time. As the [c]hurch, we wait during Advent and look forward to celebrating the fact that God loves us so much that he sent his Son into the world to save us. This waiting is far from empty; rather, it is full of the hope that God promises us as we prepare for Christ in the feast of Christmas.”

            In the Advent hymn, “Send Your Word,” (Yasushige Imakoma, 1983), page 195 in the UM hymnal., let's substitute the word “wait” and “long for” for the word “seek.”

“We await your endless grace, with souls that hunger and thirst, sorrow, and agonize.”

           “We await your wondrous power, pureness that rejects all sins, though they persist and cling.”

           “We await your endless love . . . we long for your new world.”

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Written for Dot Hatfield's 2015 Advent booklet. The message still stands as we patiently wait. And hope. And love. Peace and joy to you.

c 2017, PL. 

           

           

Lest we forget—September 11, 2001

              Several years ago, before sister Barbara retired from her career as a church musician and moved back “home”—to Little Rock, she began a community chorus, the NoVA Lights Chorale, in Arlington, Virginia.

                The group’s inaugural performance was on Sunday, September 11, six years ago. In honor and memory of this date in history, the chorus prepared a program, “The World Sings for Peace.”

                A partial listing of the music follows by title, composer, history and, where necessary, a translation. I have permission to share this in hopes that the selections will engender your own thoughts with hymns that mean something to you.

                “Da Pacem Cordium,” a traditional Latin text meaning ‘Give peace to every heart.’

                The reading of a hymn written especially for the Tenth Anniversary of September 11^th by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, “O God, Our Hearts Were Shattered.” Her hymns can be found on the websites of many denominations.

                “For Peace,” text and music by Jane Marshall and composed for the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010)

“Ose Shalom,” traditional Hebrew text; music by J. Leavitt. Translation: ‘The one who makes peace in the heavens, may he make peace for us, and for all Israel, and let us say Amen.’

                “Workin’ for the Dawn of Peace” combines two Civil War songs arranged by R. Jeffers.

                “Like Rain Upon the Mown Field” is based on Psalm 72; music by K. Lee. Sung in Korean.

                “Prayer of St. Francis,” the text attributed to St. Francis of Assisi; music by R. A. Bass.

                “Amani,” text and music by A. Snyder. Swahili translation: ‘We are singing our song. This is our song of peace.’

                “Iraqi Peace Song,” is a traditional Iraqi lullaby arranged by L. Tennenhouse. English interpretation by K. Iveland: ‘Peace to the world. Peace to my country, my love. Peace to your dreams. Peace to your children. Underneath the whispering trees, where our sons and daughters are free; in the beauty, we will see through your eyes of peace.’

                “Pacem,” traditional Latin, music by L. Dengler. Translation: ‘Give us peace. And on earth peace to all of good will.’

                “Sing for Peace,” words and music by J. Papoulis & F. J. Nunez.

                The final piece was the beloved hymn, “Let There be Peace on Earth.”

                For my service music tomorrow, I’ll play “For the Healing of the Nations,” “Weary of all Trumpeting,” and “O Day of Peace That Dimly Shines” – all from the United Methodist hymnal.             

                May your thoughts and mine be on ways to promote peace beyond merely singing and listening.

Also, let’s not forget Harvey and Irma’s myriad victims, and concrete ways (money and/or brawn and prayers) to assist them. UMCOR, Salvation Army and others are trusted places to send funds. Or perhaps, as Salem UMC is doing, send a love offering to a known church official who’s in the affected area and with whom you have communicated.