Advent: Slowing Down to See God in the Chaos
As we near the Fourth Sunday of Advent, it’s easy to get caught up in the holiday rush. The pressure of shopping, parties, and endless to-do lists can distract us from the deeper purpose of this season. Archbishop Jeremy of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland reminds us that, “There is so much going on that it is easy to be distracted and to miss what God is doing in the midst of it all.” Advent calls us to slow down and notice God’s presence in the world, even amidst the noise.
Advent: A Call to Slow Down
Advent is a time of waiting, not just for Christmas, but for God’s transformative presence in our lives. In our chaotic world, it’s all too easy to get distracted by political headlines, social crises, and personal pressures. But Advent invites us to intentionally focus on what God is doing—both in the world and in our hearts.
This week’s Scripture readings offer powerful reflections as we approach Christmas.
Micah foretells that the Messiah will come from Bethlehem, a small, humble town, challenging our expectations of power and glory. God’s kingdom often comes in unexpected ways—through humility, not grandeur. This Advent, let’s look for God’s presence in the small and the overlooked.
Luke 1:46b-55 (The Magnificat)
Mary’s song of praise is a radical declaration of God’s justice. She celebrates how God lifts up the lowly and scatters the proud. Advent invites us to join in this song, reflecting on how God’s kingdom upends the world’s systems of power and injustice.
This passage reminds us that Christ’s coming was the fulfilment of God’s plan to bring salvation and reconciliation to humanity. Advent calls us to pause and reflect on the significance of the incarnation—God entering the world as one of us, in humility and love.
When Mary visits Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy at the presence of the unborn Christ. This moment reminds us that God’s presence is already at work in the world, even before Jesus is born. It’s a call to recognise God’s work in the smallest and quietest moments of our lives.
A Call to Focus
This Advent, let’s heed the call to slow down, focus, and reflect. Amidst the distractions of the season, may we remember to pay attention to what God is doing in the world—and in our own hearts—during this sacred time of waiting.
Image: The Visitation. Notes: Two pregnant women, in the moment before embrace. Two children, outstretched arms in welcome. Four lives, bound by the Spirit, present in humanity. God's promise fulfilled. 'The Visitation by Brother Eric Church of Reconciliation Taize, France'.
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