Monthly Reflection

Advent Reflection - The Bishop of Wakefield

The other day I came across the following humorous comment: “According to my chocolate advent calendar, there are only 3 days to Christmas” – I’ll let you work that one out! While many of the big retailers have been gearing up for Christmas since the beginning of November, and you’re probably already a bit fed up of Christmas TV adverts (don’t despair, it won’t be long before we get the usual adverts for summer holidays!), I remain convinced that we should not run headlong into Christmas as soon as December arrives, but should relish the season of Advent in our Church calendar.

It’s not easy, though, is it? Advent is an incredibly busy season, full of growing anticipation and excitement as we get nearer to Christmas. It’s a season of often frantic preparation for the celebration to come. If you’re anything like me, you get to the middle of November and think “no need to panic, there’s plenty of time” and then, before you know it, you’re right up against the clock in getting ready for Christmas – cards, presents, arrangements with family, ordering the turkey, tree and so on. And it’s not long before the inevitable question arrives on your lips… “where on earth did the year go?!”

But Advent is not simply a season in which we prepare for Christmas. It is a season that reminds us of the sure and certain hope we have that Jesus will return in glory, ushering in the new heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem, that we read about in John’s vision in the book of Revelation[1], where God will make his home among us, wiping every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or pain. We declare this sure and certain hope most Sundays throughout the year in that great mystery of our faith: “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.” Advent is the season in which we dwell again on that future hope, and recognise our call as followers of Jesus to live that reality in the here and now as we prepare for his return; to be a people of hope who act in love towards others, work and speak out for justice, serve those most in need, and pursue peace in our relationships, our communities and throughout the world.

And so, can I encourage you to take some time, in the midst of the busyness of this season, to reflect again on what it means to be a follower of Jesus and how you are living day by day as a sign, instrument and foretaste of God’s redeeming grace (to borrow the words of the missiologist Lesslie Newbigin). And when it does finally arrive, I hope that you and those you love have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

Bishop Malcolm