In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. —The Song of Zechariah (Luke 1:78 & 79)
Dear People of St. David’s,
What a joy it is to be here with you at this start of the liturgical year.
The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah with the news of his wife Elizabeth bearing their son to be named John. But because of his unbelief he is struck mute until the birth. Filled with the Holy Spirit Zechariah speaks beautiful words of coming salvation, mercy, and peace, with imagery of light in the darkness. A prophesy which draws from the past towards a future beyond our human imagining.
During Advent, readings from the Gospel of Luke focus not only on Jesus’ birth but also the church begun through his Passion and Resurrection. The lectionary does not start with the events that led up to the nativity story in the first chapters. Instead jumping to chapter 21 where Jesus talks to the disciples about being ready for the end of times. This coming week we hear the voice of John the Baptist, calling to “prepare the way for the Lord” in Chapter 3, not getting to Chapter 1 and the Song of Mary until the 4th Sunday of Advent.
This structure of the Advent readings emphasizes the cyclical nature of the church year, and the connection between Christ’s birth, death, resurrection, and return. In a way we are experiencing the past, present, and future at the same time perhaps seeing beyond human eyes into God’s time. We must not be distracted by the worries of life, says Jesus. Which also reminds us that we are called to see beyond the human ways of being in the world into the spiritual.
The Advent season is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord’s nativity, and for the final coming of Christ “in power and glory.” (episcopalchurch.org) Soon we will hear the call of John the Baptist, to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ (Luke 3:4) The spiritual preparations we are called to make are “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3), as we prepare to see the salvation of God. A preparation for which prayer and reflection is important.
In a Loyola Press resource on Ignatian Spirituality, there is an Arts & Faith series for Advent which provides an opportunity for such prayer and reflection. The first in the series explores the Wassily Kandinsky’s The Last Judgment, allowing us to step outside of our daily lives. The painting enables us to sit back and reflect as the artist provides us with a singular visual that captures a view of God’s work in the world spanning the centuries. Images present both brightness and darkness. Forms of suffering and sin juxtaposed with forgiveness and restoration. A figure blowing the trumpet of the great judgement, freeing us to be healed and seek to heal others.
Both Zachariah’s words and Kandinsky’s art present a view of God’s time where everything, past, present, and future are connected. A full picture of salvation at all times including the end of times. Do not dwell on earthly things. God shines a light in the darkness to guide our feet in the way of peace.
I look forward to dwelling and reflecting with you as we continue to prepare for the Lord’s coming in glory.
Peace,
The Rev. Tanya Regli
Associate Rector
Feature art is Wassily Kandinsky’s The Last Judgment, 1912; Munich / Monaco, Germany. Public Domain.
Published December 5, 2024