A bit of a contrast, isn't it? The sweet strains of "Away in a Manger" followed by "...distress among nations...the roaring of the sea...People will faint from fear and foreboding...the powers of the heavens will be shaken." Ho, ho, ho! Where is Santa when we need him? So why in the world would the church choose a Gospel lesson such as this to begin Advent and our preparation for the coming of the Christ child?
Good reason. The sad truth that all of us who are old enough knows is we do not live in a "Santa Claus" world. Children's visions of sugar plums are washed away with the hot tears of grown-up disappointment and despair. Disease and death are constant companions. The fear and foreboding of which Jesus spoke greet us at every turn. Somehow we need to be reminded that this misery is not the end of the story.
David E. Leininger, Eyes Up!
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