This weekend marks the beginning of Advent for many Christian denominations. A time of preparation, a time of waiting, the four weeks of Advent are realized symbolically through the candles of the Advent wreath. Each week, incrementally, a candle is lit increasing the amount of light at the time of year when daylight is still diminishing.
Advent is also a time of anticipation and hope. It is a time when Christians are called to share their light, to be a beacon of hope to others; especially the poor and those in our society who are in most need of help. Christmas kettles, coats for kids, food hampers, turkey and toy drives are but a few examples of the goodwill that come with the season. It is a time of year when all people tend to lean in and give more of their time and treasure in support of others.
Many people mark the days to Christmas by using an Advent calendar. Daily chocolates, little toys, or even craft beer, there are Advent calendars for all ages! The calendar helps mark the period of waiting until the 25th arrives and the true reason for the season is born into the world.
The nativity story, often represented through the work of children playing the role of shepherds, wise men, angels, animals and the holy family, is a story that presents an amazing irony this season.
The story of Joseph and his wife Mary is well known. Their plight is to find a place where Mary can safely give birth. Instead of finding a welcoming place they are turned down again and again and continue their journey to find a place of refuge. No room at the inn, they eventually are offered a place to stay in a stable. When people hear the story they might think how terrible it was that no one reached out to help and support this family. They might wonder about the society of that time and why so few cared to help this couple in their time of need.
We know that the story has a successful outcome and that many important people come from afar to pay homage to the child that is born. What we do not really dwell upon, however, is the fact that this story is an example of a middle-eastern family who are later forced to flee their country for fear of violence and retribution. They leave everything behind and seek shelter in another country. They were, in fact, refugees.
This Advent season we find ourselves in the position to be a beacon of light, a beacon of hope to people, who like Mary and Joseph, need to leave their homeland, not by choice, but out of necessity. Their world is dark. Their world is full of anxiety and despair. They mark their days waiting and hoping for something better. They need our light to help them find their way to a better place.
Other faith traditions also have times of year when light plays a key role in symbolically depicting hope for something better, for the promise of blessings and favour. Other traditions and cultures also understand what it means to be displaced and forced out of one’s homeland. In a sense all of our ancestors came from somewhere else.
Tenant farmers, migrant workers, displaced persons – we do not have to look too far back to see how our own family or friends or neighbours were at one time impacted by famine, disaster or war. Today also marks the Holodomor of Ukraine; a terrible tragedy. Many people left their homeland. Many settled in the Prairies and to this day their culture and heritage is strong. Canada served as their place of refuge. It will also do so for the many Syrian refugees who will come in the days and weeks ahead.
We need to realize that their story is as important as the one of Mary and Joseph. We need to see ourselves in that story too. We need to bear gifts; a little gold perhaps to get them settled but more importantly the gifts of welcome, acceptance and understanding. We can all do with a little more light in this all too dark world.
Tim Cusack is an educator, writer, and member of the naval reserve.
