"Imagine a complex, multi-cultural society that annually holds an elaborate winter festival, one that lasts not simply a few days, but several weeks. This great festival celebrates the birth of the Lord and Saviour of the world, the prince of peace, a man who is divine. People mark the festival with great abundance- feasting, drinking and gift giving....." (Richard Horsley- The Liberation of Christmas)
The passage goes on, recounting the decorations that are hung, and the songs and dances that accompany the festival, how the economy booms and philanthropic acts abound....
But this is not Christmas- this is a Roman festival in celebration of the Emperor....This is the world that Jesus was born into! The world where the early Christians would ask "Who is your Saviour the Emperor or Christ?"
And yet our shops and stores and often our lives are caught up in a world that looks very much like the one of ancient Rome, where we worship at the shrine of consumerism....
Advent on the other hand calls us into the darkness, a time of quiet preparation, a time of waiting, and re-discovering the wonder of the knowledge that God is with us. Advent's call is to simplicity and not abundance, a time when we wait for glorious light of God to come again...
Christ is with us at this time of advent, in the darkness, and Christ is coming with his light- not the light of the shopping centre, but the light of love and truth and beauty.
What do you long for this advent? What are your hopes and dreams for the future? What is your prayer today?
In the vein of simplicity I ask you to list five advent longings....
As always, let us know in comments if you play. Post a direct link to your blog entry in your comment using the following formulation: <a href="the url of your blog post goes here">what you want the link to say goes here</a> For a complete how-to, click here.
The picture came from One Exposure and the thoughts were inspired by a sermon in Iona's book Candles and Conifers
I played here
ReplyDeleteWishing everyone advent peace and blessings
I played here this morning.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sally.
Good morning - thanks Sally. YOu helped me ponder something that I think is the starts of my Christmas sermon on HOPE!
ReplyDeleteI played here....
I played at my place, no pictures and no link as I can't get fancy while blogging illegaly from work :-(
ReplyDeleteI played, too
ReplyDeleteit's been a while since i've played but i couldn't resist posting my longings here.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sally!
I was a little coy over at my place.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since I've done a Friday Five...but finally today, I played.
ReplyDeleteSally, this is lovely. I played simply simple
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sally. This was a lovely way to start the day. My "Advent longings meditation" is here.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic. I played over at my place.
ReplyDeleteDavid
Longing, and praying here
ReplyDeleteThanks for a thoughtful FF.
I posted my list right here
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day!
I played here.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally!
What a lovely way to start the day. My play is here.
ReplyDeleteI think this is my first time back and, like everything else, not exactly on target. Or maybe precisely on target. These days, hard to tell. Anyway, I sort of played here.
ReplyDeleteSally, thank you for the opportunity to reflect in this way.
I played here
ReplyDeleteThank you for a Friday Five that helped me engage in some good values clarification this morning. I played here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sally, the intro was beautiful. I'd love to use it in my sermon on Sunday. I longed here
ReplyDeleteI played here Thank you Sally, what a great FF!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally, for this thoughtful Five. It helped me take a load off!
ReplyDeleteHere's my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid mine is a bit more darkness than light, at the moment - but so Advent may be, sometimes. I played here.
ReplyDeletei played, if not terribly prolifically, here
ReplyDeleteit's been a while. thanks for this topic to come back to!
Thank you! That was a needed reflection! Fri 5
ReplyDeleteI played!
ReplyDeleteLovely, Sally. I played here!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sally, this was lovely.
ReplyDeleteMy play.
wow, Sally! I hadn't planned on playing and can't right now at this very moment, but will be back later. This especially intrigues me since Richard Horsley was one of my professors at UMassBoston and later on, when I was at Harvard Divinity School, he crossed the river and offered several classes and seminars.
ReplyDeleteI didn't exactly play, but my post on Wednesday was a bit of longing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a busy day, but I carved out a little time to play
ReplyDeleteThank you Sally.
I hope this works!
I played here.
ReplyDeleteMy Advent hopes and dreams are here.
ReplyDeleteO holy night, was this ever a great avenue for reflection - thanks so much for this, Sally!
ReplyDeleteI played over at my place.
Thanks Sally! My longings for myself and the world are here.
ReplyDeleteI played this week too, over here.
ReplyDeleteI finally got to play!
ReplyDeleteI longthe ages when I had enough time to write all that I had to say. For now, I blog.
ReplyDeleteA bit late, but I played here.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably the last one to play here. I spent all morning waiting in line to get books signed! In my defense, the artist/illustrator is 91 and there may not be many more chances, and I'm giving the books away.
ReplyDeleteOh Sally what a brilliant Friday Five. I'm glad it's still Friday where you are so I can play :-)
ReplyDeletemy longings are here
Late and tired, but here's my tuppence worth
ReplyDeletePlaying late today.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow is the town Christmas Parade and Hubby and Flash will be in it. We had a high today of 20 I think. Brrrrr.
I am a day late but I have wanted to join you all in this -
ReplyDeletehttp://unwrittenwrites.blogspot.com/