Early Advent is such a bleak, empty, place. Even with a confession and a wreath on the table, church activities and general cheer and goodwill, there is a distinct sense of darkness in the time before the light.
For me, it seems that Rose Sunday is the turning point. I begin to hear the lyrics of the Messiah differently. I begin to understand the daily psalms more clearly. I find connections in the books I read and the sermons I hear. Where before was blank, now my soul is beginning to feel filled with love.
4 comments:
Rose Sunday? Like in Lent? That's strange to me. So there is no joy in mudville, I mean, advent/Christmas/epiphany, for you?
Oops! I meant Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, with the rose colored candle! It was last week!
Yikes. No fun until Lent would be a sad state of affairs indeed.
I agree! The Advent gloom has begun to lift, finally. We had Lessons and Carols on Sunday night, and I have felt filled with hope since hearing anew the faith storties of New Testament and Old, and singing the beloved hymns!
I felt the darkness too. I think there's a profound lesson in the way God has set up the seasons, and winter. There is death all around us in a very real way. That's why I long for the light and beauty of springtime--and I hope for the resurrection of all believers at the end of time. Perhaps you do too.
Merry Christmas Rachel! This Christmas, may His presence be the best present of all.
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