This morning I went to church on campus. It was absolutely wonderful. The place was packed because this weekend is St. Olaf's annual Christmas Festival. Seeing all the happy faces and ugly Norwegian Sweaters was a great way to start a cool December morning.
This Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent, and so we have begun our season of preparation, our time to get ready for that Christmas morning when we remember the Incarnation of Christ.
But as I listened to the wonderful crescendos of Greensleeves (the St. Olaf Band was playing-Sweet!) I realized something-- Advent isn't just about preparation, its about peace. Its about the peace that passes understanding, its about the peace that we should be dwelling in, the peace that became absolutely real true through the birth, ministry, and life of Christ.
I had an overwhelming sense of peace this morning as the music played in the background. Even though I have over 40 pages to write before the semester ends, I still had peace because I believe in a God that's been there.
God became human so that God could experience humanity. God knows what it's like to be forgotten and lonely and even stressed(remember when he flipped over all those tables in the temple?). We believe in a God that been there, a God that has felt human emotion, and that is what we celebrate on Christmas-- God becoming human for our sake.
I don't want to jump ahead too far, but in Matthew 27:46 Jesus says "my God my God why have you forsaken me". What a powerful statement, we believe in a God that even knows what its like to be completely without God.
God was human, God's been there and done that. And in that reality there is more peace then we could ever imagine.
During the Christmas season we get too caught up in preparing. We get the shopping done, we decorate, we make all our fancy plans, but rarely do we let God's peace wash over us.
This Advent, may peace be with you all.
n8
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