Advent is such a holy season, filled with so many theological gifts that are waiting for us to unwrap. It is imperative that we remember that the liturgical season of Advent is about "waiting actively/expectantly" on the Lord to show up in our midst. As we live in between Jesus' first arrival and his second and final arrival, we celebrate both his birth, his future return and his immediate presence among us. The beauty and blessing of Advent (which literally means "to arrive at, coming to") is the simultaneous joy of Jesus' birth (first coming) and the anticipation of Jesus' return to establish his earthly Kingdom (second coming). We light the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love during Advent worship, indicating that we trust God to heal our broken world and renew what's been marred and tainted. Additionally, we need not simply look back at the night of Jesus' birth or look forward to Jesus' skyward return--we can celebrate his arrival now! Our Savior is always "adventing" among us, moment by moment, as we celebrate the work of Jesus wherever relationships are restored through forgiveness, wherever the brokenhearted are healed and wherever new life is offered through salvation.
I love Advent for these reasons above, but Advent is not only about "actively waiting". It's also about looking out for the overlooked and noticing the unnoticed all around us.
In other words, Advent reminds us to regard the disregarded.
While none of us wants to disregard another, subconsciously it is very easy to do. Often we can disregard another for simply not believing as we do, even if that person is a fellow Christian. Typecasting others can be dangerous too. When we predetermine that someone or something is not important, or worthy of notice, then we denigrate the very creation that God loves and cherishes. When the homeless are ignored, we disregard their place in our society. When people of another race or color are mistreated, we choose to disregard their worth and contributions to the human race. When we allow the negative stigma toward mental health to flourish, we disregard the oppressive loneliness that those who struggle with anxiety and depression experience. When we give money to a charity but choose not to work toward substantive change within the social construct, the marginalized can feel disregarded and unwanted. But people and things that are often overlooked are the very places where God's strength rests most acutely. We would be wise to remember the small moments in our lives that others didn't think mattered. In those moments, God brought about powerful transformation, lifted us up out of the pit and set our feet on solid ground. Disregarded people, places and things in our lives are where the Advent Jesus meets us--time and time again. It only takes our willingness to trust the Holy Spirit's work in making us more mindful and aware. And when we're looking for, noticing and regarding the people, places and things that others ignore, we're choosing to celebrate the awe and wonder of this holy season with eyes of faith.
Advent causes us to look at the disregarded through lenses of compassion.
First, consider Bethlehem. Micah prophesies that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judah. But the leadership ignored Bethlehem. Why? It was small. It was insubstantial. It wasn't as big, as reputable or as powerful as Jerusalem. It wasn't worth their time or attention. In fact, when Herod wanted to kill all infants under two years old (Matt. 2), it took the Jewish scholars scouring the prophets to finally realize that Micah had the answer (Micah 5:2). But God uses the "foolish" things of the world to shame the wise (1 Cor. 1:27). But the disregarded town of Bethlehem was the birthplace of the Messiah, the King of kings, from the lineage of David.
Advent reminds us to regard the disregarded.
Have you noticed that during our Advent and Christian worship services (and SS and Bible study meetings) that there are people, places and things that we read about and study that are ignored, neglected or simply overlooked? I did some online research (list below created by ChatGPT) about disregarded people and items in the Christmas story(Matt. 1-2; Luke 1-2). In addition to recognizing Bethlehem anew and afresh, take notice (literally!) of the following list and ask God to strengthen your spiritual eyesight during this beautiful Advent season. Ask the Lord to help you regard that which is so easily disregarded, in order that you might truly know the loving heart of a newborn baby, born of God through the virgin Mary.
Disregarded People
- Shepherds – These low-status workers were the first to hear the news of Jesus’ birth, but they were often looked down upon in society.
- Mary – Though central to the story, Mary was a young, unmarried woman from a humble background, making her situation socially marginalized.
- Joseph – Often a background figure, Joseph humbly accepted the responsibility of raising
Jesus despite potential ridicule for Mary’s pregnancy. - Elizabeth – Mary’s relative, who miraculously conceived John the Baptist in her old age, is
often secondary to the main Christmas narrative. - Zechariah – The father of John the Baptist, who temporarily lost his voice for doubting
God’s promise, is often forgotten in the Christmas story.
Disregarded Items and Settings
- Bethlehem – A small, unimportant town, Bethlehem was not a place people expected
greatness to emerge from. - Stable or Manger – The setting of Jesus’ birth was far from ideal, emphasizing humility and lack of recognition.
- Swaddling Clothes – These simple cloths signify Jesus' humble beginnings.
- Star of Bethlehem – Though central to the wise men’s journey, it’s sometimes overlooked as a miraculous sign leading Gentiles to Jesus.
- Egypt – The holy family’s flight to Egypt, though important for protection, is often seen as a brief aside in the story.
Reference this list several times during Advent and Christmas. Notice the many ways God took disregarded people and items and opened the eyes of the faithful to perceive them with high regard instead. My hope is that our Advent worship this December will lead us to notice the stranger, observe the oppressed, and acknowledge the neglected. When we take time to regard the disregarded moments of the Advent and Christmas stories we will enter God's presence more humbly, more gratefully and more resolutely. After all, this holy season is about noticing God at work in the world, breaking into our darkness in the Light of a tiny baby, born in a small stable, in a miniscule town known as Bethlehem.
Speaking of Bethlehem, allow me to close this article with the story of Philips Brooks' "O Little Town of Bethlehem". Pastor Brooks' experience in the disregarded town of Bethlehem led him to write one of the most beloved Christmas carols of all time (from ChatGPT):
The hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem was written by Phillips Brooks. Brooks, a pastor at Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia, was inspired to write it after a profound visit to Bethlehem in 1865. During a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he attended a Christmas Eve service in Bethlehem, which deeply moved him. Reflecting on the peace and beauty he felt in the little town, Brooks wrote the lyrics three years later in 1868.
I find it compelling that the world is starving to find meaning, not just during the time of Jesus' life on earth, but especially now. The problem is that the world is looking in all the wrong places. The Church is tasked with reminding the world that Bethlehem is where spiritual sustenance is found. In fact, "Bethlehem" is a Hebrew word for "house of bread." The neglected, overlooked and disregarded people, places and things of Advent and Christmas remind us that true life is found in Jesus Christ, the babe of a small, seemingly insignificant town in southern Judah. When we learn to practice regarding the disregarded in the holy scriptures, we can apply this practice to the ways we observe God at work in our daily lives.
And bit by bit, we'll realize that the heart of God in Christ beats for the disregarded. Advent reminds us that our task is to act like Jesus, speak like Jesus and regard the disregarded all around us. After all, in the moments when we felt disregarded, neglected and ignored, the Savior never left our side.
Even now, he still doesn't leave our side. Joy to the world--the Lord is come!
Here's to regarding the disregarded this season of Advent and beyond,
Pastor Will
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