DECEMBER 2007
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith” (Colossians 2:6 & 7a)
Picture yourself in an art gallery displaying originals paintings from the great masters of art. As you stroll through the various corridors filled with some of the most significant art work in history you come upon a man and a woman caught in deep admiration (I’ll let you decide which specific painting it is). After longingly evaluating the piece in front of them, he looks at her and says, “Honey, isn’t that frame the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?” This would be amazing wouldn’t it? Here before you, and them, is a painting of magnificent stature, yet all he notices is the object around the painting.
Don’t get me wrong; frames are important. They highlight attributes of the print or painting they support; a well chosen and designed frame can enhance the display of any work of art. I recall the times when Carolyn and I went to a frame shop to select one for our very limited print collection. We compared the size and type of wood so that it matched the print. But the entire time our focus was to enhance the print. A good frame supports the painting; it does not draw attention to itself. The best framework naturally lead us to the object supported.
Anglicanism has always been an expression of the Christian faith which sees the value of framework. During the 16th century the English Reformers sought to maintain the Biblical teachings we received through Apostles with the historic expression of the church, (i.e., the liturgy and liturgical year).
FRAMING FROM WITHIN
December brings with it the start of another liturgical year. Our Prayer Book reflects the change through the lectionary readings. We hear Isaiah proclaim God’s promise to reestablish His Kingdom rule through His chosen one – the Messiah. In this way Advent frames our Christian walk by drawing our attention to this promise. And this promise is the Gospel: God’s rule, expressed in Christ’s conquering sin and death, leads us into a right re-creation, the new Jerusalem and eternal life in His presence. Please note that the Advent season is not the focus. It is not the Gospel; rather it points us to the good news of God and His promised coming Kingdom. It is a time when the Church acknowledges that we are not citizens of this world, but of His heavenly realm.
BEYOND ADVENT
Advent also frames the rest of our liturgical year. It is our introduction to God’s saving work in which we will walk through during the coming months. Like a good movie trailer which entices us and encourages us to go see the movie, so Advent invites us to enter into a walk - a journey with Christ; His birth, circumcision, presentment, baptism, ministry, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension. Paul wrote to the Colossian Church that we are called to live our lives under the Lordship of Christ and His ways today as we wait for the fulfillment of the Kingdom. While we live under the kingship of Christ today, in the here and now, we await the day when all will be made new in the final established new creation. So as we begin another liturgical year we also begin anew our walk in Christ. A walk that leads us from the cradle to the cross, and from the cross into the new creation.
So this Advent let’s begin anew our calling in Christ. Let’s not focus on the frame but on the artwork within the frame. Let’s enter into an Advent which frames our faith so that we might live for Christ, both in the now and the not yet.
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