As I am writing this today, crowds of people are gathering in Tacoma to honor the fallen police officers who were brutally slaughtered in Lakewood last week.  As a community, we feel the loss in many ways.  We grieve with the families who have had fathers, husbands, and brothers torn away from them.  We stand with those who are hurting in prayer and offer support.  We burn with anger that those who are sworn to serve and protect were senselessly cut down.  We fear, thinking that if the blue line of protection is so easily trampled, then what of us?  But as Christians walking through the season of Advent (the four weeks leading to Christmas), we also experience another emotion: anticipation.

There are times when we experience goodness and wholeness and the world seems fine.  The horrific slaying of these officers is a bracing reminder of a fact we sometimes wish we could forget: our world is broken.  Of course, for some of us, the events of last week only deepen the pain of this fact we know all too well.  The brokenness of the world is quite evident when homes are shattered, when cancer invades, when jobs are lost, when depression encroaches, or when temptation claws to pull us down.  

When surrounded by the darkness of a broken world, we might be drawn to despair – to wonder what’s the worth?  Why should I keep pulling for my family?  Why should I continue to stand against temptation?  Why should I bother to continue to worship?  Why not say, “Hang the world!” and turn into a crusty old curmudgeon or a selfish boundary-less hedonist?

For those of us who feel these pains and temptation, Advent is for us.  Advent is the season when, as we prepare for the first Advent of Christ at Christmas, we also prepare for His Second Advent in glory.  We allow ourselves to feel the pain and longing for that Coming and cry out for His return.  Like the winter ground in frosted deadness waits for the life of Spring, like ancient Israel yearned for her promised Deliverer, we await the return of our Lord.

This return of our Lord is our “blessed hope” (Titus 2.13).  We are assured that when He returns, He will make all things right.  No more will officers be slain in the streets.  No more will cancer ravage our bodies.  No more will homes be shattered by betrayal and loss.  No more will the hard worker be shown the door.  No more will the earth be pillaged and abused.  For our Lord will return with justice and righteousness.  He will banish all evil and breathe warm life upon our deadened world.  His reign will be a reign of goodness without end!

But as we wait, and sometimes that wait is as painful as the mother who longs to give birth, we work.  We “nest,” in a way.  We do not become weary in our good deeds, because we know that the harvest will come (Galatians 6.9).  We refuse to be cowered by the intimidating powers of evil, for we know that ultimately the monsters of this world are defeated by the High King of Heaven.  We are assured that what we do for Him and His kingdom will last, for His kingdom is without end.  

Thus we comfort the afflicted, work for justice, share the good news, give heed to our own discipleship, and, above all, we pray.  We pray that God’s kingdom will come on earth and His will be done not only in some future era but also now.  We pray for healing and renewal.  We pray for salvation and restoration.  We pray for protection and provision.  And, joining with the Spirit who is within us and with all creation we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus! Come!”

Merry Christmas!