From the Chaplains
Here at Pymble, we do Christmas early.
Because our students’ last day is in early December, we count backwards four weeks from that last week of term so that, in our chapel services, we can lead the students through the Advent Journey.
In the Christian liturgical calendar, Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of the Messiah, the Christ.
In the four weeks leading up to Christmas, it is a time of prayful meditation, thanksgiving and reflection.
Each week for the last three weeks in chapel, we have been lighting an Advent Candle and taking the students on the journey.
The first candle of Advent is for Hope.
The second candle is for Peace.
The third, pink candle is for Joy. In the Catholic tradition, it also reprsents Mary the mother of Jesus.
The fourth candle is for Love.
The final candle, the white one in the centre, is the Christ candle. It is lit on Christmas Day. After that day, that same white candle is lit every Sunday until Good Friday, when it is snuffed out to represent Jesus’ death on the Cross. It stays unlit throughout the Holy weekend of Easter, until Easter Sunday when it is re-lit to represent the Resurrection.
The Advent Candles symbolise our journey towards the birth of Christ. The candles symbolise the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love that Christ brings. The white candle in the centre is the Christ Candle – lit on Christmas Day, for Jesus’ birth, snuffed out on Good Friday, to represent Jesus’ death on the Cross, and relit on Easter Sunday, to represent His resurrection.
This week is Joy. The story for this week is set on a hillside outside of the small town of Bethlehem.
The ancient Hebrew prophet Micah had foretold, 500 years earlier, that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
The protagonists of the story are most unlikely – they are shepherds, who were keeping watch over flocks of sheep and goats on the hills outside Bethlehem (the town of David).
These men were the first to hear the momentus news that the Christ had come into the world.
The narrative often spun around these shepherds is that they were humble, ordinary men.
But the shepherds we read about in Luke were actually fulfilling Temple duties, and the only ones who could perform Temple duties were priests. We know they were priests because of the Mishnah.
The Mishnah is a group of documents that recorded oral traditions that governed the Jewish people during the time of the Pharisees. One of its regulations states it “expressly forbids the keeping of flocks throughout the land of Israel except in the wilderness — and the only flocks otherwise kept would be those for the Temple services (Bab K.7:7; 80a).
These shepherds were in the fields surrounding Bethlehem, not out in the wilderness where the ordinary sheep were kept. So, they must have been priests.
Why would priests perform menial shepherding duties for the Temple? It’s because the sheep were intended to be sacrificed for Passover. It was the priests’ job to make sure the lambs were without blemish and completely unharmed before being sacrificed.
For Christians, this has symbolic signifiance – Jesus is seen to be the spotless sinless sacrificial ‘Lamb’ who is without blemish. His sacrifice on the Cross, for Christians, is a once-for-all gracious gift of freedom, forgiveness and eternal intimacy with God.
The gospel of Luke tells the story of the priest-shepherds like this:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about!!!”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:8-20 (click this link if you would like to read more)
The shepherds’ joy and wonder is clear in the narrative.
After they recover from their terror of being blinded and dazzled by a messenger from God, they “hurry” (aka run as fast as their legs will take them) into Bethlehem to see this for themselves.
As we journey towards Christmas, whatever your faith background, may you find hope, peace and joy in knowing that the God of the Universe has plans for you and your children. And has already given us the greatest gift of all.
I’ll leave you with this Advent poem.
The Joy of Advent
by Lynn Dove
Celebrate Advent
With the lighting of candles
Hearts aglow with Hope
Celebrate Advent
Prepare Him room in your heart
Wait for His return
Sing “Joy to the World”!
Rejoice with all creation!
Be at peace today!
The God of all Love,
He has come to save us all!
Hear the angels sing!
Celebrate Advent!
The Christ Child is our Saviour!
Jesus is our Hope!
Edwina O’Brien
Assistant College Chaplain