The IncarNATION: We need a light!

The Holy Family by Janet McKenzie
This is the season of Advent, as believers with great anticipation;
Waiting for the light and the preacher mounting the pulpit with emphasis of salvation
As they’ve studied their lectionary notes
Of The Lord’s annunciation and bold within the margins of the Euangelion
As the choir stands and with their angelic proclamation and sings a song:
“O come o come Emmanuel ransom captive Israel”


However, this advent season with great anticipation
Those who are captive are sitting in the congregation
Wrestling with this invitation to salvation


These thoughts are occupying their attention:


Systematic oppression
Holy indignation
Societal frustration
Authority casting lots thriving off separation
They are ready to remove spiritual stents  
Like a doctor ready for operation!


With the instruments used to cut flesh
They too cut flesh
Piercing the heart of kinship with a IV
Diluting the arteries
Stopping the flow, life and creativity of humanity
Killing the frame work of community
And now we are left with a broken society


Asking the God of all comfort to comfort
Asking the God of peace to provide
Comfort and provide? Why?
When we are dashing heads upon rocks
And refusing to remove beams from eyes


We are Blind!
It doesn’t feel like fire shut up in our bones
Justice is our broken compass and we cannot find our way home.
There’s a calling for this light, a plunge into an eternal fountain
As we are Plunging, there is an urging but
Still can’t find the words to go tell it on the mountain…


Yet…
We are in darkness and need a light


A light that will knock down walls of division
Embrace our brothers and sisters breaking the chains of immigration
This is not an invasion just an invitation to see the light of the incarnation.


We are in darkness and need a light


A light that will take the nuclear bomb of prejudice and defuse it with the voice of command:
PEACE … Be Still!
As the raging sea calms we still must be aware that racism is real!
We are in Darkness and need a light


Hate crimes upon hate crime; mass shooting upon mass shooting
This tragedy still lingers in the air creating the space for this heartbreaking question:
DOES ANYONE STILL CARE?


We need your light! That light that the Gospel of Matthew says can’t be hidden,
The light that John declared that the darkness could not comprehend
The light that shines at the end of that tunnel
With a hope that’s tangible and a spirit that guides and ties up loose ends.
This light gleaming in the manager
May have been strange but was no stranger
May have been cautious but this light meant to mediate the danger… of the nation!  
We are prepared at the table
Without hesitation
Without a forced form of salvation
Having a compassionate grace filled conversation
We hear a cry of the one in the wilderness crying out:
“Prepare ye the way of the lord “
This advent season with great anticipation
We should be invited to pray for our nation
And those with a divine intention to extend this invitation!
Allow us to join the choir and their angelic proclamation:
“All glory to God, and peace upon earth,
Be published abroad at Jesus’ birth;
The forfeited favor of Heaven we find
Restored in the Savior and Friend of humankind”
Keisha Holmes is a seminarian at Wesley and spoken word performer.

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