Rumi says, “I can’t explain the comings abd the goings / you enter suddenly and I’m nowhere again / inside the majesty.”
This Life is an advent*ure of Holy Being.
“Waiting” for what is nigh, is simple vulnerable open receptivity, as in Be Still, know that I Am.
The intimacy of conscious union in pure silent stillness is the power that transforms human consciousness from “waiting” to having the Indwelling Presence act through us.
Nearness is an intimacy of communion.
Oneness is no self at all wherein all vestiges of self/other dualism are embraced and erased.
The trinities spin and whirl within us giving rise to the newborn holy child continually.
How will This Being make Itself known in every situation, circumstance, person alive? What an adventure!! Be still in the face of the dualism, let truth burn away the vestiges while not moving.
Acting from Love in conscious union &/or communion is only natural.
Thank you!! Your three advents makes so much more sense than two. I have always struggled with the idea of the Second Coming because it seems to presume that Jesus came and then left (a literal reading of Luke-Acts?). Yet my personal experience is that the Christ is here and now as described in Colossians for example. So three advents -- maybe not as a discrete events, but more as a process in which Christ comes to us again and again, gently moving us and the cosmos toward a fulfillment and consummation of God's dream of shalom for all.
Thanks for your fresh insights about Advent. I especially liked the part about St. Bernard of Clairvaux, his influence on Thomas Merton, and his being "the great medieval theologian of love."
Our four year old has birthed Jesus a many times today. She does not care about the seasons. She just carries one of her stuffed animals to term, rides in on her donkey (my husband) and falls down in-front of me (Josef) so I can assist with the birthing process. Some deep breathing, some pushing and Jesus (teddy bear) falls into the straw (blankets on the floor).
I must clean the Jesus baby and then lay it into her arms so she can warm and nurse it.
Our little ones earnest play reminds me, that Christmas isn’t a season but a journey. We must bend deep, breath slowly and birth the new life into our old.
Come now Jesus! The world needs you not later, but NOW! The World is and its people are suffering. The leaders in our country and others like Israel and Palestine need to earn violence will never solve their problem. American needs you NOW to save us from becoming a dictatorship.
The middle Advent! A resounding yes from me, and a good place to be present in. A place where I have found myself endlessly wandering, perhaps just to be near.
I also wonder - when? But then I think, GOD has the perfect plan. And the wisest of us might have as much as a 2% understanding of what HE has in store for us. Take HIS advice - love one another as we love ourselves. When the time is right we will be provided.
"God is Near. Maybe near is enough. Not just imminent, but immanent. We aren’t just waiting. But God already dwells with us. Advent is the season of now and here." 'Not just imminent, but immanent.' I just love this - thank you so much.
I'm starting to wrap my head around that.
It's a scary thought, but also an empowering one.
That said, maybe scary and empowering are the same thing.
Rumi says, “I can’t explain the comings abd the goings / you enter suddenly and I’m nowhere again / inside the majesty.”
This Life is an advent*ure of Holy Being.
“Waiting” for what is nigh, is simple vulnerable open receptivity, as in Be Still, know that I Am.
The intimacy of conscious union in pure silent stillness is the power that transforms human consciousness from “waiting” to having the Indwelling Presence act through us.
Nearness is an intimacy of communion.
Oneness is no self at all wherein all vestiges of self/other dualism are embraced and erased.
The trinities spin and whirl within us giving rise to the newborn holy child continually.
How will This Being make Itself known in every situation, circumstance, person alive? What an adventure!! Be still in the face of the dualism, let truth burn away the vestiges while not moving.
Acting from Love in conscious union &/or communion is only natural.
Thank you!! Your three advents makes so much more sense than two. I have always struggled with the idea of the Second Coming because it seems to presume that Jesus came and then left (a literal reading of Luke-Acts?). Yet my personal experience is that the Christ is here and now as described in Colossians for example. So three advents -- maybe not as a discrete events, but more as a process in which Christ comes to us again and again, gently moving us and the cosmos toward a fulfillment and consummation of God's dream of shalom for all.
It is SO helpful, isn't it?! You're welcome.
Thank you for the quote from St. Bernard of Clairvaux! I (we?) need all I can get from the Church Fathers (and Mothers).
Yes . He is then and now and yet! The three advents make sense . Now is the holy spirit and power as stated in NT corinthians. Thanks!
Thanks for your fresh insights about Advent. I especially liked the part about St. Bernard of Clairvaux, his influence on Thomas Merton, and his being "the great medieval theologian of love."
The Madeleine l’Engle poem is stunning. I’m not a poem person, but all the poetry you have shared is reachable and profoundly touching. Thank you.
Our four year old has birthed Jesus a many times today. She does not care about the seasons. She just carries one of her stuffed animals to term, rides in on her donkey (my husband) and falls down in-front of me (Josef) so I can assist with the birthing process. Some deep breathing, some pushing and Jesus (teddy bear) falls into the straw (blankets on the floor).
I must clean the Jesus baby and then lay it into her arms so she can warm and nurse it.
Our little ones earnest play reminds me, that Christmas isn’t a season but a journey. We must bend deep, breath slowly and birth the new life into our old.
Blessings for journeying together!
I love the idea of the three Advents, that the Second Advent is God in our lives right now. Thank you, Diana.
Come now Jesus! The world needs you not later, but NOW! The World is and its people are suffering. The leaders in our country and others like Israel and Palestine need to earn violence will never solve their problem. American needs you NOW to save us from becoming a dictatorship.
The middle Advent! A resounding yes from me, and a good place to be present in. A place where I have found myself endlessly wandering, perhaps just to be near.
I also wonder - when? But then I think, GOD has the perfect plan. And the wisest of us might have as much as a 2% understanding of what HE has in store for us. Take HIS advice - love one another as we love ourselves. When the time is right we will be provided.
"God is Near. Maybe near is enough. Not just imminent, but immanent. We aren’t just waiting. But God already dwells with us. Advent is the season of now and here." 'Not just imminent, but immanent.' I just love this - thank you so much.
Present Advent. It's a new concept for me.
Very helpful!
Thanks 😊
Lovely, thank you so much! I look forward to walking the Advent journey together. The Taizé chant was just beautiful.
"Advent is the season of now and here". "Keep awake to that!" Thank you, Diana for this reflection at the start of this Advent season.