Years ago I was invited to preach a revival at Cadiz United Methodist Church. My father had served there beginning my senior year of high school. I stayed in Louisville to finish up school, but visited my parents and that church weekends and summers when I was in college. Cadiz is a charming town nestled in gently rolling hills of Western Kentucky. It’s famous for Broadbent Country Hams and crappie fishing on Lake Barkley.
When I returned to preach the revival I was surprised at the changes since my last visit. A bypass had been built, diverting traffic around Cadiz. No doubt, this bypass was convenient for folks traveling to the Lake Barkley Resort State Park and beyond. I couldn’t help but think, though, that travelers were missing something when they skipped around this picturesque community. Ah, progress.
I have to admit, I’m pretty happy about bypasses and interstate highways. Travel is much more convenient than in times past. But bypasses aren’t always good. Take the bypass around Advent on the way to Christmas. Nowadays, radio stations and marketers bypass not only Advent, but Thanksgiving, and even Halloween. I’m beginning to think we’re headed toward a never-ending Christmas shopping loop if the trend continues!
We risk two clear dangers in bypassing Advent. First, we miss out on Advent. Advent is a distinct season of the Christian Year with its own important emphases. Advent occurs at the darkest time of the year. Advent reminds us that the world is dark, and without Christ, hopeless. Just as Israel longed for the coming of the Messiah, so we long for his return to fully establish his Kingdom, so God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. We’re waiting for Jesus to return, but while we wait, there’s work to do.
Another risk of bypassing Advent is a cheapening of the Christmas celebration, itself. We’ve so commercialized the holiday as to nearly drain its Christian significance. Christmas is the celebration of the Incarnation, God-with-us, the Word become flesh to dwell among us. Gifts are associated with Christmas, but only because Francis of Assisi put the wise men in the nativity scene. They don’t really belong there. They came later. That’s Epiphany. The gift that really matters for Christmas is the gift of Jesus, God-in-the-flesh.
This year, especially this crazy year of COVID, don’t rush your celebration of Christmas. Hang out in Advent. That longing we all have for a better world, a world healed, a world made whole, is part of what we’ve been looking for all our lives. Jesus is coming. And when he does, we’ll celebrate and rejoice in God’s presence and peace.