“Come, Lord Jesus.”
So often I pray this when all other words fail me. When the world seems dark and full of chaos, I find that these words come to me in both agony and hope.
In this Advent season, we wait for the coming of the Christ child. It is a winter season, and I can’t help but think this is metaphorical in some sense. This waiting period is dark and dreary, cold and chaotic. It feels that we enter a time of desperation during this season, aching with the longing for the coming of Light and Warmth.
The darkness of our world is an ever present reality. Turn on the news and you’ll see it quickly enough. How often do we look at each other and shake our heads in disgust at what another human being could fathom to do or to say? How often do we look at each other and find anger? Impatience? Hatred? Fear? Judgment? How often do we stare in shock at the way the world in all it’s chaos operates and cry out in righteous indignation at the wrongs of the world?
The darkness of our world is terrifying, but it is nothing compared to the darkness we find within ourselves. How often do we stare into the pits of our own souls and see a chaotic void there as well? How often do we find anger? Impatience? Hatred? Fear? Judgment? How often do we see within ourselves the very things we rail against as injustices in this world? In these moments of clarity, when we see and feel the full weight of our darkness, how easy it is to lose hope.
So often we feel like Eve, fully aware of the darkness of the world and ashamed of the darkness within ourselves. We try desperately to cover ourselves, and all the while we are wrapped tightly by the wiles of the forces of evil in this world.
But this knowledge, this agony, does not have the final word. Darkness and chaos do not have the final say in our lives. At Advent, we wait. We wait in expectant hope at the coming of the Christ child. The one who will bring Peace to our chaos. Light to our darkness. Mary’s song covers us in our distress.
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”
(Luke 1: 46-49)
We wait. With all the agony of Eve. With all the Hope of Mary. We wait.
“Come, Lord Jesus.”