I grew up in a rural Black church. I did not grow up hearing about the liturgical calendar that many churches use. Let me hasten to say that I do not feel deprived or that I missed something that would have made me a better person. In fact, my home church offered me love and nurture that helped to make me the wonderful person that I am. (If I do not say that about myself now, it may not get said until I am dead.)
For people who are not familiar with the liturgical calendar, while there may some variations of it, it starts with Advent; the color is purple. Christmas tide; the color is white. Lent — 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays; the color is purple. Easter tide; the color is white. Pentecost; the color is red. Ordinary times or the season of growth of the church; the color is green.
While I appreciate some of this, I also struggle with parts of it. Like, why is the color white for the “high or holy days” (Christmas and Easter)? For me, that teaches people that white is right! The only day that black is the color is on Good Friday, which was bad for Jesus and good for us as Christians. Some of the imagery and language needs to be cleaned up, like using dark for bad/evil when bad is bad/evil; since dark can be good, look at me. But, that is another whole lesson for another time.
I love Advent! It is the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It is the time when Christians should change their pace, attitude and perhaps ways of life or lifestyle. It is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ anew in our lives. For many, Christmas has become so commercialized that all people think about is what they are going to give or receive. I now hear many say “I will be glad when Christmas is over.” It is not just a time to slow down because for many of us, the pandemic has already done that. In addition, many of us have experienced the most divisive election in our lives, along with the heightened awareness of racism. Many have become even more aware of the disparity between the haves and have nots.
During this season, I not only think of the birth of Christ, but his teachings. In my tradition, we sometimes sing a song: “To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus. Oh, how I long to be like him ..." To be like Jesus is to follow his teachings.
In the gospel of Matthew 2:1-12, the wise men come to see the toddler Jesus. These were wealthy men who followed a star that lead them to Christ the King. In the gospel of Luke 2:1-20 is the story of Jesus being born in a stable and shepherds from the fields coming to see him. While they are two separate stories, many Christians put the two stories together as one story. I know the difference, but it is OK for me because that offers the opportunity for rich and poor to come to Jesus. That means that those in the White House can come as well as those in the outhouse. Those in the big house can come; those who are homeless can come. Isn’t that great news!
Now, my task during this season is to find ways to make that great news become a reality for everyone. I must find ways to bring people together: rich and poor, and in between; various races and cultures; various sexual orientations; and various geographies. This could bring hope, peace, love and joy to all of the people of the world. More importantly to me, it could bring all of those things to my soul. If I have life, then I can share life with others. What a wonderful gift to offer to everyone!