This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, the season of anticipation and waiting. But what are we anticipating and waiting for, especially in the midst of a world that is getting less tolerant, and getting more violent?
Every Christmas, we celebrate and remember the birth of Jesus – the one often called the Prince of Peace. We hope, we dream, we long for a time when we no longer fear strangers, but embrace them as our neighbours.
A Christmas song comes to mind –
When a Child is Born
A ray of hope flickers in the sky
A tiny star lights up way up high
All across the land dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born
A silent wish sails the seven seas
The winds of change whisper in the trees
And the walls of doubt crumble tossed and torn
This comes to pass when a child is born
A rosy hue settles all around
You’ve got the feel you’re on solid ground
For a spell or two no-one seems forlorn
This comes to pass when a child is born
And all of this happened
Because the world is waiting
Waiting for one child
Black, white, yellow, no one knows
But a child that would grow up and turn tears to laughter
Hate to love, war to peace
And everyone to everyone’s neighbour
Misery and suffering would be forgotten forever
It’s all a dream and illusion now
It must come true, sometimes soon somehow
All across the land dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born
But are we going to just sit and just anticipate? Or are we called as Christians to participate in bringing about the peace we long to see? Are we going to be the ones the world is waiting for?
miak