Saturday of the First Week of Advent
When preparing for the weekly reflection I often read over and pray with the readings as they appear on the USCCB’s website (Not sure what I mean? Follow the link above). Rarely do I go out of my way to find them in the Bible unless I’m foggy on the context of the passage or, as is the case today, verses are omitted.
The omission of verses always piques my curiosity. For reasons far beyond my pay grade, the decision was made that these few verses here or that half a verse there are better off omitted. Today, I’m going to use an omitted line as my starting point. Let’s just call it ‘reading between the lines.’
The gospel tells us that “Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, ‘Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’.” Interestingly, he first told the Twelve where not to go before he told them to “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” He told them, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.”
What I don’t want to do is play make believe that I’m a Biblical scholar and can tell you all the nuance of that statement. I can’t and I honestly think that would distract us from the relevance this part of the passage has for us in this season of Advent.
Without being able to explain the nuance, I can infer a principle. It would go something like this, "the Kingdom is for everyone, but it has to start somewhere." This principle keeps in mind that Jesus is the eternal God entering history at a specific time and place. This principle also keeps in mind that the Great Commission at the end of Matthew sends Christ’s disciples to all people across the entirety of the Earth. I think the principle works, and it tells me something about Advent.
Advent as a season of expectation, waiting, and preparation cries out to be a season that says, the Kingdom has to start somewhere, and that place is my heart and your heart. It is my home and your home. It is not a time that we neglect the universal call of the great commission to make disciples of all nations, but one where we step back and make sure we are still in relationship with the Jesus we are inviting others to encounter. And, that we are still open to encounter new sides of Jesus.
The Kingdom is for everyone, but it has to start somewhere. What are you doing this Advent to be open to the Lord’s Kingdom in your life? How can your household be more open to the transformative power of Advent? Beyond focusing on our waiting, how can you take steps to focus on “God’s Advent” (Advent meaning coming or presence) this year?
The Kingdom is for everyone, but it has to start somewhere. It started 2000 years ago in the backwater town of Bethlehem. And it starts again and again where Christ is ‘Advent’ or present. May it start again in our homes and hearts, because without our own advent, we can’t carry out the command to share Christ’s presence with the world.
- Spencer Hargadon