In the beginning

I remember when I first understood that Advent wasn*t just about waiting for the baby, that there was something cosmic about it, waiting for the beginning, but also for the promised ending.  We didn*t talk a lot about Judgment in my church growing up.  I know others did.  But it wasn*t until I was an adult that I understood that we were also waiting for the Second Coming of Jesus, and probably not as a baby this time.  This year, with Christmas being on a Sunday, we have the longest Advent possible.  A full four weeks.  This means that the seven O antiphons from Isaiah, the ones we sing in O come O come Emmanuel all fit into the week which follows the Fourth Sunday in Advent.  Very cool.  This year we get the fullest Advent possible.

In the beginning

There was Advent.

There was waiting,

Lots and lots and lots

Of waiting.

Waiting for the Baby:

Yes.

Waiting for the true beginning

Of everything:

Yes.

Waiting for the end

Of all time:

Yes.

In the beginning

There was Advent,

So simple

So complex.

In the beginning

We waited.

Now

We wait

To see the Baby*s eyes

The smile.

We wait

To hear the true beginning

Of everything.

We wait to embrace

The end of all time.

We wait

To know ourselves held

There.