Isaiah 2:1–5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36–44
This Sunday begins the season of Advent—a time of preparation and anticipation leading to the feast of Christmas. While typical Advent practices include soft candlelight, melodic carols, and clever calendars, the Scriptures leading up to Christmas are anything but soft and sweet and cheery.
Advent scriptures are often apocalyptic and startling, pointing toward a future vastly different than the current reality. Dramatic contrasts, portents, tribulation, and admonishment are all the stuff of Advent Scriptures. They warn of changes to come—a revolution, really—as the Messiah enters the world in the form of a baby. That tiny, helpless, vulnerable baby will overthrow all systems of evil, bursting in from the heavenly realm to confront them from the inside.
This week’s passages are no exception: weapons of war destroyed and turned into tools for abundance, waking up to a new reality, lightness overcoming darkness, and the sudden arrival of God’s reign, so abrupt and sweeping it is likened to the worst catastrophe the people of God have ever known.
The Isaiah passage in particular sets forth God’s vision of a non-violent world in which God teaches the ways of peace and people joyfully seek a new way. The Psalm echoes this vision, singing of a Jerusalem that is intended to be a place of unity, praise, prosperity, and peace. In Romans, Christians are exhorted to “put on the armor of light,” pursuing peace and dignity in a world literally hell-bent on violence and degradation.
Essentially, these Advent passages present us with a vision of abolition, of a world transformed so that all of Creation may live in peace and abundance. That transformation began abruptly with Jesus’ first breath and continues today. That transformation began from the inside, within humanity, from one who seemed utterly powerless throughout life and in his death. It started with direct confrontation of evil powers.
Like Jesus, persons in prison and immigrant detention centers appear powerless to the world, but they are a formidable force in God’s ongoing mission of transformation and reconciliation. They are in direct, daily confrontation with systemic evil and know its weak spots. Working together, organizing for others’ dignity and liberation as well their own, they tap into divine power to dismantle oppressive structures so God’s peaceful reign can flourish.
From the inside, among the vulnerable and “powerless,” grows a radically non-violent world. Advent challenges us to deepen our solidarity with those inside who are organizing for a peaceful future. Along with special observances and traditions in this season, our Advent practices can also include actively supporting and collaborating with imprisoned and detained persons for liberation. What would it look like if our Advent practices were as shocking as our Advent Scriptures? At the very least, we would catch glimmers of eternal hope that outshine all of the season’s candles and lights.
Leeann Culbreath is an Episcopal priest, immigrant advocate, and band mom in south-central Georgia.