We have expectations, but are often met with a reality that looks much different than we hoped. The good news of Jesus Christ is this: Who he really is, the reality beyond our expectations, is very good news for us.
This advent we discover who Jesus is and what he is promised to be through stories of the Old Testament. There a promise was made and expectations began. From the Old Testament to now, we learn Jesus is much better than we expected.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome.
Jesus, open our eyes to your light and our ears to your words of hope. Come, O long-expected Jesus. Our hope is in you. Amen.
Word: Genesis 15:12
“As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.”
Meditation: Great and Dreadful Darkness
Today’s meditation is written by Megan Roegner
As a proud grade school three-time Bible Bee champion (yes, my name is still on a plaque on the wall at school), I thought I knew the story of God’ covenant with Abram. But as I re-read Genesis 15 this week, it just felt weirder than I remembered.
There’s the part about Abram cutting animals in half and stacking them up as a sacrifice, which definitely feels strange to twenty-first century eyes. But it’s the part about the dreadful and great darkness that falls upon Abram that really captured my attention. I’m sure a Biblical scholar could explain what’s happening here very well. But I’m just a former Bible Bee champion who grew up to be an English teacher. For some reason, verse 12 made me think of these lines from T.S. Eliot’s masterpiece, “The Hollow Men”:
Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
Eliot was writing about the moral degeneracy he witnessed as Western society recovered from World War 1. The hollow men are people who lack the bravery and conviction to do…anything. They may have an impulse for action but something prevents them from carrying it through. Their inaction is the reason why, Eliot writes, “This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper.” For Eliot the Shadow is a faceless evil that prevents us from being who we are meant to be.
Genesis chapter 15 is occupied by two themes: God’s promises and Abram’s questions. God says, “I’m giving you great things!” and Abram responds, “But how can I know for sure?” Between the idea of God’s promises and the reality of them being fulfilled falls a dreadful and great darkness.
But despite the similarity in imagery to “Hollow Men,” the darkness that Abram experiences comes from God, so it must be good, not evil. In my life, there have been about a million times I’ve prayed desperately for something. Often, months and years passed before I understood God’s answer. Every time that I had felt frustrated, uncertain, or abandoned in the moment turned out to be the start of something good God had planned for me. And yet, I still struggle to trust the goodness of God’s plans in the season of darkness before I can see them at work.
As Abram’s experience shows us, darkness does not keep us from being who we are meant to be; darkness is not an end. Rather, it helps shape us through providing opportunities for faith; it provides new beginnings. I think this is why many of us are drawn to the church seasons of Advent and Lent. They provide us with the space to wrestle with darkness and remind us over and over again to trust that the light is coming.
God, give us the faith to trust you in times of dreadful and great darkness. Let us always remember that you work for the good of those who love you. Amen.
Prayer for Neighbors
· For my immediate geographical neighbors.
· For my community, neighborhood, town/city.
· For neighbors hurting from broken families, addiction, violence, abuse, poverty, sickness.
· For the eyes of the Good Samaritan, to see and help my neighbor in need.
Closing Prayer
Father, in the midst of darkness may we cling to your sure and certain promises. Promises sealed in the blood of Christ and proven trustworthy in the empty tomb on Easter morning. Amen!