Come, Thou Dayspring

This is the season of hope.

Listen, listen carefully.

"Oh come thou Dayspring, come and cheer / our spirits by thine advent here / Disperse the gloomy clouds of night / And death's dark shadows put to flight."

Those words put to mournful melody aren't just the cry of God's chosen people awaiting their Savior. No, they are the cry of all of us right here and now, in the grace-filled days that still feel like days in the trenches.

These words are our solace as we slug our way through the long dark nights, and the short, but frigid days, of winter. They are the hope for us parents who are stuck in the house all day with children experiencing tantrums, teething, cabin fever and night-wakings.

They are the consolation for us who fret about our Christmas preparations and feel discouraged when there is more week than grocery budget, and still presents to account for as well. They are the balm for us who miss our families who suddenly feel further away in December than they did in August.

"When hope shall sing its triumph / and sadness flee away."

Advent is about the coming of the Savior. He comes as a precious Baby, the most mind-blowing condescension that God could perform, save perhaps, disguising Himself in a thin wafer of wheat

He also is coming again in glory at the end of times. We must prepare ourselves for this moment, which could happen at any time.

Yet this Advent, He is coming in another way. He is coming into our lives in all their imperfections, frustrations and sorrows. He simply awaits our invitation and then comes, with all the Power of a reigning King, and all the wonder and beauty of a Newborn. He ushers us through our days with grace at our request. We don't have to wait until Christmas Day, and we certainly don't need to wait until the Final Judgement, to meet Him. We can meet Him now. Or, more accurately, He will meet us. He will gladly accept our cry for a relationship with Him and join us in the bleak midwinter.

"This very moment, I may, if I desire, become the friend of God."

St. Augustine