Advent

"Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
    and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
    for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our Lord descendeth,
    our full homage to demand." (1) 

The hymn has a solemn tone and therefore might, at first, seem out of season when compared with "Joy to the World, the Lord has Come." [Let All Mortal Flesh" towers above secular "holiday" songs like "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" like a giant over a flea!] Yet "Let All Mortal Flesh" has its own deep stream of joy, if you take time to mull over the entire hymn.

I am sure you have noticed that the Advent season has a certain "edge" to it, a sort of bitter-sweet taste, with its twin concerns of human sin and divine grace. In this, Advent is much like the season of Lent. This year I am using the line quoted above from "Let All Mortal Flesh" as part of my daily prayers. It is helpful to me to be reminded of the serious side of Advent, and that there is a time to talk and a time to be quiet. There is a time to do earthly business and a time to "ponder nothing earthly-minded." There is a time to relish the infant Jesus and a time to think hard on what it means to each us that "Christ our God to earth descendeth." Advent celebrates two comings of Christ, as a babe and as a King! We turn to the babe at this time of year while we wait patiently for the King who is coming, for as sure as there was the first, there will be the second.

A prayer:

Oh Lord, hear our prayer this morning;
    hear and do not turn away.
Help us always see You only;
    help us understand this day:
that Christ our Lord to us descended,
    that we might be with Him always.

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^{1United Methodist Hymnal, 1989 edition, #626, four stanzas.}

Jerry L. Mercer