Custodians of Mystery

“Comfort, O comfort my people,

says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and cry to her

that she has served her term,

that her penalty is paid,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

double for all her sins.”

Isaiah 40:1-2

Advent is a season of anticipation, but it also seems to be shrouded in the mystery of Christ’s incarnation and second coming. My favorite seminary professor, Dr. Frank Wade, loved to remind us of the unique role the Church plays within society. He would frequently tell us soon-to-be priests that the Church is the custodian of mystery in our culture. We are the guardians, the keepers and bearers of mystery to this world. We are the ones who have some answers to what precedes life and what happens after it. We are the ones who claim that life has purpose and meaning, and it all derives from a God who created the universe out of His abundant love. Sadly, the Church occasionally forgets its sacred responsibility as the custodian of mystery, but Advent has the keen ability to reawaken us to this call.

Out in that arid desert, John was reawakening people to the mysterious work of God, reminding them of all God had done for their ancestors and that it was now time for them to prepare because God was about to do something new. John was a wild voice in the wilderness, proclaiming that the people of God should prepare a highway and make a straight path for the Lord.

Similar to the experiences of Isaiah and John, the season of Advent is a time to reawaken ourselves to the sacred mystery in our own lives and to prepare for God’s work in the world and in our lives. John fulfilled his role of making people aware of the mystery and majesty of God, and the Church has been called to do the same for 2,000 years. God is up to something grand, and we can be a part of it!

We have a place in our community and the broader culture, a role that only we can fill as custodians of mystery. Our faith informs our thoughts about life, death, and everything in between. We shouldn’t be surprised when people share their joys and sorrows with us because they know our vision extends beyond this life into something more. We have the chance to play an important role in others' lives because we know that there is more to life than what meets the eye. We can offer hope and peace that passes understanding because we know who holds all things in His hands.

Advent helps reawaken us to things that are ultimate, that matter to God, and will extend into the life to come. In this holy season, may we hear the prophet’s voice of hope amid the chaos of life, and realize that we have a role as well as custodians in our community of that which is ultimate and holy.