Today marks the first Sunday of Advent. The word ‘Advent’ derives from the Latin word meaning coming. In the Christian religion this is understood in terms of the “Second Coming” of Christ. The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often the preparation for the “Second Coming” while commemorating the first coming of Christ at Christmas.
My question this morning is: What are we waiting for???
Advent anticipates the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. 2000 years ago Jesus bore witness and demonstrated the truth, which is that the life-giving Spirit – the same Spirit that was within him – is in us. Why are we waiting for what we already have? What’s left to do is to lift that life and Spirit up out of us and into the world. That’s the “Second Coming” this world is waiting for and needs.
With the typical way Advent is practiced, the Christian religion has us standing around helpless, looking into the sky waiting for Jesus to come back. The reality is that Jesus never left in terms of his Spirit being with and in us, and what we must do now is lift that Spirit out of us.
Here’s another Latin word – animaduertere. It means “to take action.” That’s the season we are in now – not Advent, but Animaduertere. It’s a season to stop waiting and to take action. It’s a season of inner anarchy. It’s a season of tearing down those false mindsets that have been ruling within us. It’s a season to turn to that deep-feeling life, Spirit, and source within us, and to lift it out of us into the world. It’s a season of true and authentic togetherness – speaking what we feel deep inside of us to one another in our own words. The waiting is over! It’s time to birth that Kingdom Jesus spoke of. This is the second coming the world is waiting for. This is why I wrote Inner Anarchy – to wake us up out of waiting mode, and embolden us to take action mode.
