Why You Should Make Time for Some Darkness This Advent - Intercollegiate Studies Institute

Why You Should Make Time for Some Darkness This Advent

Observing the season of Advent is difficult in our culture. Christmas now begins sometime around Halloween, when the supermarkets load their shelves with generic holiday decorations and celebrity musicians release singles from their upcoming Christmas albums. Black Friday and Cyber Monday beckon us to the holiday hustle and bustle. The Radio stations begin to play Christmas non-stop Christmas music and televisions begin to play Christmas movies—and all this before the season of Advent even begins.

Traditionally, the twelve days of Christmas begin on December 25th, while Advent is celebrated the approximate four weeks prior. Every Christian season has a theme, and the theme of Advent is preparation. We prepare for the coming of the light, but in order to do so we must recognize the darkness that defines our current state. In most traditions, we spend the time reading through the book of Isaiah. It is difficult to take the words seriously and still pretend all is at well with the world’s celebration of Christmas. While being bombarded with generic calls to joy and good cheer, Isaiah speaks to a “sinful nation” where “everyone loveth gifts.” A land that can only be “redeemed with judgment.” The words “Woe unto them that put darkness for light, and light for darkness” seem to be written for those that associate Christmas too closely with shopping malls.

Even in the darkness, however, there is hope. But it’s a faint hope, a hope that has not quite revealed itself. We are told a rod shall come forth out of the stem of Jesse and that even though we walk in darkness, in “the shadow of death”, the light can still reach us. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” But these seem to be faint promises of things we can’t understand.

In the Anglican tradition we celebrate the lessons and carols service during Advent, and the service traditionally begins in the dark, with the choir outside the chapel. The first lessons read are taken from the Old Testament Prophecies like Isaiah but slowly progress to the New Testament announcement of Christ’s birth. As the readings progress, the chapel is slowly lightened and the choir makes its way to the altar to represent the fulfillment of our hope in Christ. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.” The abstract became concrete. The light clears the darkness.

This is the story of the nation of Israel, and it is the story of each of us. We all begin in the darkness, but even there we can hear faint murmurings and feel the desires that nothing in this world can satisfy. By following them we are led into the light. But the light only comes by passing through the darkness.

I know it is difficult to carried away in the pre-Christmas spirit and celebrations, but I encourage everyone to take at least some time this Advent to step away from the busyness of the outside world and reflect on the darkness around us. The suggestion might sound morbid in our age obsessed with the power of positive thinking, but it is the only way to better appreciate the light.

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