Already Not Yet

This morning I heard Christmas music playing.  Normally, I find this a bit frustrating so early in Advent.  I really don't want this season to be rushed.  But it did occur to me that at least for that brief time, I was experiencing an eschatological moment.

Eschatology is the church's way of discussing the end times, what it believes to be the ultimate destination of human history: its redemption, along with that of all Creation, by God.  The Apostle Paul, throughout his letters teaches that as Christians, we live in an "already not yet" world: the Eschaton has already occurred with the death and resurrection of Jesus but has to occur as he has not returned.  In more accessible terms, God's future is breaking out into our world right now.  We may not see that given all that seems to be wrong and unchanged in our lives but we are never to doubt that God is doing a new thing.  Those snippets of Yuletide music were both a harbinger of what is to come and what has already transpired: the entry of Love Incarnate into the world.

So, try to listen to Advent music to prepare yourself for the nativity but should you hear some Christmas carols, don't panic.  Instead, anticipate all that God has in store for us.

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