First Sunday of Advent
Scripture Reading for Today:
Resting in the Unknown
by Amy Bratton
I have been learning that in life, there are many uncertain roads to walk. Uncertainty seems to be more prevalent now, as many of us face global pandemic uncertainties alongside all the other existing ones.
In the face of the unknown, I am becoming more aware of my choice, battle against the uncertainty or embrace the mystery. While it may seem like the logical choice to cling to what I already know when faced with uncertainty, I am starting to see that turning toward mystery may actually be a more promising path.
Let me try to unpack this with a couple of well-known Christmas stories.
First, Mary. In the gospel narrative of the annunciation, when the angel approached Mary with the news of Jesus’ impending birth (Luke 1:26-38), she can come across as quiet and submissive, but I imagine there was more to the story. More than Mary’s single clarifying question recorded in the gospel of Luke and then an affirmative response. Someone with the fortitude to stick with Jesus through all that would unfold, has a more complex internal experience than the peace we see depicted in medieval art portraying this moment.
As Mary faced the mystery of what Gabriel’s words meant, she consented to move forward, but not with blind faith. Indeed, she knew that Yahweh had promised a Messiah would come. She knew that God knew her and loved her deeply. But she didn’t know all that would unfold, all that would pierce her heart (as Simeon, the prophet, would speak over her soon after Jesus’ birth). Even if we fill in the blanks with our own human experience, the limitations of the biblical text means that we cannot know Mary's internal experience.
Yet, Mary’s tender consent in the face of mystery laid the foundation for what would come.
King Herod was also faced with mystery as the Magi appeared on his doorstep in their attempt to celebrate the birth of a new King of the Jews. In contrast to Mary, King Herod doubled down on his anchors of certainty. He held power, and he could send out his military force to protect his position of power.
Yet, his violent acts to defend his place had little effect because Jesus came to subvert King Herod's realm of power in ways that Herod never imagined. In the face of uncertainty, Herod clung to the things he knew and violence, coercion, and insecurity resulted.
As I read the lectionary readings for this first Sunday of Advent, I can’t help but notice that they highlight these polarities. We read a prophecy in Isaiah 2 that calls Israel to defer to the Word of the Lord and allow God to be the arbiter between nations. The resulting peace involves laying down weapons with such finality, that Israel can pound swords and spears into tools to grow food.
Similarly, Psalm 122 encourages a posture of peace, not only for our own good, but for the good of others.
And, not to be too complacent about the peace promised in Advent, the lectionary draws on a very mysterious passage for the gospel reading. Matthew 24 contains the mysterious words of Jesus about the unknowable day and hour of the coming of the Son of Man. Much ink has been spilled in attempts to unravel the mystery of this passage, so I won’t join the chorus. What if, instead, we lean into the mystery and seek a posture of peace and preparation? If the coming of the Son of Man ushers in the peace described in Isaiah 2, I welcome that peace revolution. Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
Yet, here we are, muddled and middled in the story, as one of my professors liked to say. In my response to the unknown, I find myself somewhere between the steadfast Virgin Mary and the murderous King Herod. Hopefully, closer to Mary most days. However, I recently gained insight into my own default responses when I took the Birkman test and discovered that under stress, I prefer organization and clarity; I like direct answers and concrete plans to solve problems. When I don’t have the ability to lean into those things in times of stress, I panic.
But what if I leaned into the certainty of God’s presence, instead of my own efforts? What if I embraced curiosity instead of control? What can this liminal season of Advent teach me this year about leaning into uncertainty?
I am excited to share Known and Unknown with you. As we sit in this uncertain season, you are invited to join the conversation with these authors who have been reflecting on mystery. Let us sit together, in the mystery of Advent.
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