I need a deeper sense of God’s presence. Ritual brings us Advent, but haven’t we heard Advent themes before, Jesus’ coming, first at Bethlehem, finally on the Last Day, and between times now through Word and Sacrament? How easy to skate effortlessly through these themes, like reading “Advent for Dummies.” Especially this year, where is Jesus now? Yes, Word and Sacrament on Sunday, but where is He in the middle of the week?
“And the angel of the Lord appeared to him (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” (Exodus 3:2). Who is this “Angel of the Lord”? As the story goes on, the Angel says, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (6). This story is less about God’s coming from far away, Jesus coming from heaven to be born, coming from heaven on the Last Day. It’s less about coming, much more God letting us know He is already here. “‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:24).
Had we lived in first century Israel, we could have gone out and seen John the Baptist, maybe Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and wise men. We could have seen Jesus, but had you lived anyplace else, you couldn’t have seen Jesus. Advent is more meaningful seen through the Ascension. God “raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet…” (Ephesians 1:20-21). Heaven is more than someplace up in the sky, a place from which the Son of God comes. Heaven is Jesus Christ exalted, filling all things with divine power and care. “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (5).
Besides Bethlehem and the Last Day, He comes now. “I know your sufferings; I have come down to deliver you.” “The assurance that Christ rules and controls all things enables Christians to face the fears and uncertainties of this world, even death, with confidence” (Confessing the Gospel, 518). Wherever you are right now, Jesus is mysteriously both present and concealed. “I will turn aside to see this great sight” (3).
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