REVELATION

Advent is upon us again…a time of discovering anew or better yet of giving birth again to God…here and now. There are many profound things to be said about Advent and Christmas. I would like to share some simple thoughts that what this season is about is “revelation”. The Incomprehensible One who created a universe with billions of galaxies, each with billions of stars, all trillions of miles apart, not to mention the complexity of our own bodies - all of which boggles the mind - chose (chooses) to reveal Self to us, by taking on our flesh and “pitching his tent among us.” (Jn 1:14).

Robert Frost has a beautiful poem entitled Revelation –

We make ourselves a place apart
Behind light words that tease and flout,
But oh, the agitated heart
Till someone find us really out.

'Tis pity if the case require
(Or so we say) that in the end
We speak the literal to inspire
The understanding of a friend.

But so with all, from babes that play
At hide-and-seek to God afar,
So all who hide too well away
Must speak and tell us where they are.

My last blog spoke of listening to one another. It is quite a challenge. This one is about revealing ourselves…which may be even more difficult, not unlike, perhaps, willingly making oneself available to serve another but resisting mightily the other’s helping hand. What America’s favorite poet states, (and what God says to us about the Incarnation), is that we cannot hide but must reveal who we are if we want to be in life-giving relationships…if we want to live most fully. Wearing masks and limiting ourselves to superficial relationships stunts our growth. God had to reveal Self to us, for us to know God...for us to love God. And we, made in the image and likeness of God, must do likewise.

There is a story of a king who fell in love with a peasant girl. He wrestled with whether he should reveal his love, not knowing whether she might become his bride simply because he was king. On the other hand, if he surrendered his throne and then asked for her hand in marriage, she might reject him. After much reflection, he chose the latter course, taking the risk that he might lose both his kingdom and the woman he loved.

There are many ways to prepare for and to celebrate this joyous season. Perhaps, the best way may be to imitate Our Lord and “pitch our tent” among those around us, opening ourselves to the risk of rejection and the possibility of the fullest of love…giving fullness of life to us and to God.