an advent & (pre) christmas meditation…

Throughout Advent we meet various characters who take huge risks in saying “Yes” to God. I’m thinking here of John the Baptist, Juan Diego & Guadalupe (whose feast we celebrate on Dec. 12), Mary (last week we read the Song of Mary – the Magnificat) and (today) Joseph.

But what exactly does this “Yes” mean, might you ask? I’ve been thinking about the “Yes” saying this week in terms of a marked shift in one’s life. The kind of shift that doesn’t happen every day because it’s pretty major. I’m talking about the kind of shift that is on par with choosing where to attend college or graduate school, committing to a relationship, welcoming a child into the world, beginning a new job or losing a job, moving from one place to another, making a career change, entering recovery, burying a loved one or simply seeing the world through a new lens. This “yes” is about acceptance – whether wrapped in terror or wrapped in peace.

Today we focus on Joseph’s “yes” moment. Here he is not yet married and his fiancé is found to miraculously be with child! I’m willing to bet that most men in his situation would have simply run away. But Joseph had the strength to stay by Mary’s side. His first plan was to stay with her so that she would not experience public disgrace -- but to slowly dismiss her, thereby dissolving the engagement that de facto was dissolved given that it appeared Mary had been unfaithful. Then he planned to move onto Plan B. But he receives a message from the angel in his dream that he should not be afraid to wed Mary and welcome the child of God into his life. We often talk about the vulnerability of Mary in this situation – but Joseph too places himself in a vulnerable position. He says “Yes, I will marry this woman who does not carry my child; Yes, I will welcome this child into my life as if it were my own” – and apparently he even postpones sexual relations with her until this child of God is born. Joseph shows the kind of care that all of us are to show to those who are most vulnerable in society. I imagine that Joseph put himself at risk of public ridicule with these decisions. Yet, he said “yes”and his life changed forever.

It is the church community’s role in the world to be a place where people can wrestle with the difficult and momentous decisions of their lives so that they can come to a place of clarity and acceptance and say “yes” in very much the same way Joseph does in today’s Gospel reading.

Now, I don’t know about you, but during this time of year, the “yes” moment or shift that stares me squarely in the face revolves around celebrating the Advent and Christmas seasons in a way that is faithful to God and the Christian tradition. Easier said than done in our culture, because our consumer-crazed society has hijacked Christmas! It’s been ripped from its roots and exploited by big corporations that sell it as a season primarily about materialism. In the midst of the whirlwind, there are some chances to spend quality with friends and family. But these also come with their own pressures, which can often be difficult to deal with.

Recently, I was at a meeting with our neighbor across the way, Rabbi Allison Conyer. She was lamenting about this time of year, sharing with us how difficult it is for her and other Jews who are confronted with vestiges of a Christian holiday at every turn. I nodded in sympathy at her comment. And later on I thought about how for Christians – at least some Christians – it’s also difficult to be surrounded by the symbols of our high holidays, but not the solemnity or authenticity of their true meaning. This is to say that the version of Christmas peddled in the malls is not the Christmas I claim as a Christian.

For many years now, I’ve worked to reclaim this sacred and holy season. This year, the attempt has been easier than in past years. It’s helped, I’ve found, to watch little to no television – not terribly hard to do for me, I admit, when you only have access to one channel if you don’t opt for cable! In the car, I listen mostly to radio in Spanish, public radio or our local UCSB station, which does a great job keeping the Christmas hype down. I managed to spend just a few hours shopping for Christmas this year and am exploring more alternative gift giving options – like donating to such organizations as the Heifer Project, Episcopal Relief & Development or Freedom from Hunger in honor of a loved one. There are so many needs in the world I reason, and so why not give the gift of life along with, say, a meaningful book, magazine subscription or homemade treat, rather than just buying those big ticket item?

Last week I found myself listening to a conversation on Speaking of Faith about money and moral balance, especially during the holiday season. Speaking of Faith is a wonderful radio program about spirituality and faith in America. You can listen to all past programming through the internet – I commend it to you. In fact, one church I know has used the radio program to guide small group conversation – this is something we could think about doing in our student groups, Women’s Spirituality Group or other group at church…This conversation about money and moral balance centered precisely on the dilemmas we Christians face at Christmas. The sales are starting, the stores are open late, and many of us are gearing up to spend more money than we actually have in a holiday season with deep roots in religion. Host Krista Tippet explores with Nathan Dugan, a financial educator and a Lutheran, the turmoil many of us experience with money in our day-to-day lives — and how we might work towards a moral and practical balance for ourselves and the next generation. Nathan opens the conversation by saying that he believes that the Church has been complicit getting sucked into the whole persuasive argument about the role of consumerism in our culture. He doesn’t think that the Church has understood the impact of what that means for peoples’ souls and what it robs from us in terms of our personal sense of being. A strong statement. But Nathan finds his vocation in teaching people to how to establish a counter rhythm to excess – he empowers people to cut through excess and discover simplicity.

Advent is a great time to do some of the work Nathan talks about. We are familiar with the season of Lent being one characterized by discipline, simplicity and inward focus. But Advent too is considered a penitential season. It’s an invitation – with its long, dark nights – to slow down, reflect, pray, meditate, make amends and say “yes” to God in a new way. Advent is all about preparing for something new. We are preparing to say yes to life. Jesus was all about saying “yes” to life and no the forces of oppression, whether they be physical, psychic, emotional spiritual, material or all of the above.

This Advent, I’ve had the pleasure to serve as one of the judges for the “What’s Sacred” photography contest held to commemorate the University Religious Center’s 50^th anniversary. In the months leading up to Advent students and residents from across Santa Barbara County have been invited to submit a snapshot which expresses their understanding sacredness. Last week, I was handed a CD with 85 photo entries on it of photos ranging from beautiful beach sunsets to a close up of a cow’s udder! Today I must make submit the 30 photos that I think should make the first cut. It’s been a wonderful Advent exercise to enter these photographs to contemplate the varied expression sacred within the frame. I feel honored to step into these photographers’ sacred space. I’ve also been asked by the URC to write a short essay on the topic sacredness. My wrestling with that exercise has been one meaningful way I have said “yes” to the holiness of this season. I find that I have to dig deeply to define sacredness during this season. It lives beyond all the cute-sy holiday cheer that greets me at every turn.

One meaningful way some churches have begun the reclaim Advent and Christmas is through the celebration “Blue Christmas.” Typically held on the night of the Winter Solstice – the longest night of the year, the Blue Christmas gathering honors the reality that for many people, Christmas time is an emotionally difficult one. Some people may be grieving the loss of a loved one, others may not have the option to be with their families, or their families may be so broken that it is easier to celebrate Christmas away from the home. One priest I know talks about the Blue Christmas service at her church as one of the most pastoral things she does during the year. Her congregation keeps the service simple – because grief and pain during this season is complex. They hang blue ornaments on the evergreen in the sanctuary, the first decorations on the tree that is bare for Advent. The next day the rest of the congregation sees those ornaments as they decorate for Christmas, having prayed during the Prayers of the People for the losses the ornaments represent. But not everyone who comes to a Blue Christmas service is trying to cope with the death of a loved one. She’s encountered people who are grieving over the loss of a job, the loss of their health or vitality, the loss of a dear pet, their change to empty nesters, or their addictive behaviors either past or present and the pain they have caused others. And, sometimes grief can be too raw to bring to such a service. People who do not come to St. Paul's Blue Christmas service are often comforted to know that a religious community is recognizing the difficulties some people face at the holidays and will pray for them. The service sends a really powerful message to those whose grief is very deep and is very personal even though the intimacy of the service is not something that every grieving person is ready to experience. (E. Kaeton and ENS/ Schjonberg)

With Advent coming to an end and Christmas just around the corner let’s keep on with the hard work of claiming our sacred story for what it is. We’ve had a wonderful Advent here at St. Mike’s – a festive community celebration of Advent Lessons & Carols, a joyful crowd at our Sunday morning Advent liturgies, we’ve pledged our time/talent/treasure to St. Mike’s this season and we’ve collected and continue to collect a donation for the Heifer Project (over $400!). We’ve also completed a year of ministry together. A year marked by many meaningful occasions and a warm sense of spirit! And so today, be sure to savor the last day of Advent and begin to prepare yourselves for a rich 12 days of Christmas. A new life is taking shape among us. Let us take our cue from Joseph, whose “yes” to God led him into a new and wonderful world.

A blessed Advent and holy Christmas season to you all! Nicole+