In ancient cave art from the year 250, depictions of Jesus are found. He is dressed in a white robe, like an ordinary shepherd. And his robe is tinged with purple accents, the color of royalty. (Imagining the Word). These cave paintings express the moment when the holy and the ordinary kissed. But what strikes me as odd, is that royal purple became not only the color of Advent (advent candles, clergy stoles, communion tablecloths) but also the color of Lent, when we recall the painful passion of Christ who was mocked, betrayed and crucified. Why not two separate colors?

I remember the year my Mom and Dad changed the traditional Christmas celebration for our family from Christmas Day to Christmas Eve. I was more than a little mad as a 13-year-old. But it turned out to be a fabulous tradition I grew to love so much more. I remember the year Dave and I altered the Christmas morning tradition for our kids and there were lots of tears. But it became a portal to new life in future years. So perhaps purple is the color that reminds us that the pain and sadness of life are intertwined with the joy and peace of life.

During December a series of contradictions descend upon us. The days get shorter, and we experience the longest night of the year but the city sparkles with lights, luminaries and evergreens. We gather for parties but loneliness hovers around us like an uninvited guest. We sing of the prince of peace even as we watch newsreels of war. The calendar year ends but a season of love and hope are born anew.

Here at church, we have experienced lots of transitions. We’ve welcomed new staff and are saying goodbye to long-term staff. We’ve torn up the hallowed halls and put them back together. We’ve added virtual worship to in-person worship. We’ve welcomed new members and buried beloved pillars of the church. I like how one author described the season of Advent as “incubation” or “incompleteness.” Even when our minds know that change is good, our hearts churn as we feel the losses deeply.

During Advent, God sits with us in the darkness and dawns upon us to see and become the light of Christ in this beautiful and fragile world.