Siblings of Christ,
We’ve made it more than halfway through the season of Advent. We lit the candle of hope, and we reflected on the promise that even when we are too weary to hope, Jesus is our hope for us. We lit the candle of peace, and we explored what it might mean for us to be peacemakers in a world where there is precious little peace. This week, we lit the rose colored candle – the candle of joy. This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday – meaning “rejoice” – and we celebrate that we have made it past the midway point in our waiting.
Today as we continue our series “Advent in Plain Sight” based on the object lessons in Jill J. Duffield’s book by the same name, we are exploring an object that might seem unusual for the season of Advent: BELTS.
I thought “belts” was a strange choice for Advent. And even stranger that we decided to explore this object on “rejoice” Sunday. But, as I have immersed myself in the Scripture passages for this morning and as I have imagined the world these passages describe, I think “belts” are just what we need for today. And, not just any belt – “the belt of righteousness” as it says in Isaiah 11.
The Savior for whom we wait and prepare is wrapped in a belt of righteousness, he is clothed in faithfulness. Friends, let us rejoice! The kingdom of God is breaking into this world. Our wait is nearly over, and the signs of new life are emerging all around us, even on these cold Wisconsin winter days.
Come let us rejoice!