Revelation 20:11 - 21:8
I began Advent reflecting on the "Little Apocalypse", in Mark 13:24 -27, with visual artist and poet Jan Richardson. As Richardson says, "It used to come as something of a shock to me: that a season commonly perceived to be about joy and peace always begins with the end of the world. Every year, on the first Sunday of Advent, the lectionary gives us a little apocalypse." (adventdoor.com). And now here we are in these last days of Advent being asked to ponder John's vision of the end of the world.
Endings and beginnings. They are linked aren't they? During Advent we wait with Mary for the beginnings that come with the birth of Jesus, but our Christmas celebrations also involve endings - the end of the season of Advent, the end of Mary's pregnancy, innocent children slaughtered by Herod in the wake of Jesus' birth . . .
Endings and beginnings. John mixes them intimately as he speaks in scorching images of the endings of a second death, the ending of the first heaven and the first earth, and the beginnings of a new heaven and a new earth when God will come down from heaven, make God's home with us, and dwell among we mortals.
Endings and beginnings. John writes that the "one seated on throne" says, "See, I am making all things new . . . I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
World events during Advent have left me raw. Climate change talks in Peru resulting in few commitments to work for a renewed heaven and earth with clean air and water and soil for all God's creatures; weeping for children killed in Peshawar and around the world; greed continuing its exploitation of people and all creation; and then there are the more local and personal endings of death and loss. And yet, in the midst of such endings we dare to light out Advent candles, sing our songs of hope, offer our lives as living signs of peace, joy and love, and begin each day anew with the One who longs to make all things new.
What are the endings and beginnings in your life right now? Is is possible to be aware of God's presence with you in them - the one who comes down from heaven to make a home with us?
Marilyn Malton
 |
| End and Beginning by Jan Richardson |
I began Advent reflecting on the "Little Apocalypse", in Mark 13:24 -27, with visual artist and poet Jan Richardson. As Richardson says, "It used to come as something of a shock to me: that a season commonly perceived to be about joy and peace always begins with the end of the world. Every year, on the first Sunday of Advent, the lectionary gives us a little apocalypse." (adventdoor.com). And now here we are in these last days of Advent being asked to ponder John's vision of the end of the world.
Endings and beginnings. They are linked aren't they? During Advent we wait with Mary for the beginnings that come with the birth of Jesus, but our Christmas celebrations also involve endings - the end of the season of Advent, the end of Mary's pregnancy, innocent children slaughtered by Herod in the wake of Jesus' birth . . .
Endings and beginnings. John mixes them intimately as he speaks in scorching images of the endings of a second death, the ending of the first heaven and the first earth, and the beginnings of a new heaven and a new earth when God will come down from heaven, make God's home with us, and dwell among we mortals.
Endings and beginnings. John writes that the "one seated on throne" says, "See, I am making all things new . . . I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
World events during Advent have left me raw. Climate change talks in Peru resulting in few commitments to work for a renewed heaven and earth with clean air and water and soil for all God's creatures; weeping for children killed in Peshawar and around the world; greed continuing its exploitation of people and all creation; and then there are the more local and personal endings of death and loss. And yet, in the midst of such endings we dare to light out Advent candles, sing our songs of hope, offer our lives as living signs of peace, joy and love, and begin each day anew with the One who longs to make all things new.
What are the endings and beginnings in your life right now? Is is possible to be aware of God's presence with you in them - the one who comes down from heaven to make a home with us?
Marilyn Malton
No comments:
Post a Comment