Advent should force us inward. In the rush of a material season, the call from elsewhere is unmistakable. It rings in our ears from eternity, asking us to stop and reflect on the more. During this season, I always carry different thoughts within me like close seasonal friends, hoping to find some style of experiential truth of the One who came to us quietly. This year, I have spent time reflecting on my response.
If I were present all those seasons ago, in the present time of the life of Jesus, would I recognize Him? How would I respond?
Many of us Christ followers would scoff at the notion. Yet, how many times do we (I) so readily ignore His call now without a physical presence? It is easy to ignore a text message. It is another matter entirely to ignore a face to face interaction with someone (especially if He just read out loud all your insecurities and fear). What would change if we had the breathing Christ in our midst readily available?
The Puritans had a popular sentiment that went something like the “the same sun that melts the ice, hardens the clay.” I love this. It is exactly our response to Jesus. You read it in every interaction in the Gospels. People were either growing in their defense, eventually taking up arms to silence Him, or they were lowering their pride, and laying waste to any barrier between Him and themselves. Under the light of His sovereignty, we have the mysterious choice to be ice or clay, to be creations or children?
There have been times recently where I have simply broken down. As ice melting, my heart has felt undone, lost in a sea of my own need and fear. On a good day, I like to believe if I saw Jesus in the flesh, I would run to Him fragile but hopeful, laying waste to pretense and pride. There is a root within me that wishes to grab firmly to Him and never let go. With a beggar’s heart, I hope I would recognize Him and in His grace He might receive me.
This is a personal Christmas story.
This is the ache of advent.
Matt simon blog 