Advent begins today. Once more, we step into a holy stretch of quiet waiting. We are not alone: All creation watches for Jesus’ return with us.
Not only is Advent a declaration of Jesus’ birth; it is an anticipatory celebration of God returning to the world to save, redeem, and make whole, as well. One day, in triumph, He will take what is broken and lost and return it to its original edenic perfection. For this, all of creation waits.
This said, however, in the meantime, we believe all of creation to be perfectly held together by Christ. He is the present day sustainer-of-all-things, composer and conductor, all at the same time.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. —Hebrews 1:3 (CSB)
All things have been created through Him and for Him:
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together. —Colossians 1:15-17 (CSB)
While creation awaits Christ’s return, it yet sings praise to God. A copse of tall pines becomes a cathedral; a painted sky, a Psalter; a song sparrow, a soprano. Bright colors testify to his glory: the crimson cranberry, the golden warbler, the chartreuse heuchera, the brilliant blue morpho. All creation attends to its Creator, eyes and ears turned toward his majesty. We are surrounded by reminders to look for and worship the Lord.
Come along with me this Advent season as we watch and wait with nature, hopeful, longing for the return of its king. What wonders might we glimpse?
Photo: Hingham, MA, 2017