Today I have been reading the passages on John the Baptiser which will inform Sunday's sermon.  What struck me as never before was the frequent use of the word 'joy' in these bits of Luke and John.

Here is Luke 1:14, part of the message given to Zechariah, and old priest who was childless...

You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. (NRSV)

I think that's just a beautiful little verse, one I've read and never seen before.  It is so human, acknowledging perhaps Zechariah's secret yearnings for completion and acceptance in a society where progeny signified piety/righteousness.  Before anything else, this child will delight his parents.  I kind of like that.

We are also using part of John 3 where Baptiser-John speaks of his own joy.  I wonder what he learned from his parents that helped him delight in another's greatness, content to be who he was?  Sure he had his moments of darkness and doubt (eg Luke 7 which we aren't using) but reading today I see not a scary doom-prophet but a bringer of joy... for me a new take on Jordanside Baptiser.

Today the pavements outside my home are decidely icy, though there are bits of near virgin snow if you look for them.  Having to see my GP for some test results, I gingerly threaded my way up the hill in my wellies - definitely a sight for sore eyes.  Walking slowly, taking time to look where my feet went, keeping safe (I really do not need broken bones to add to my fun) and arriving intact at the right time... it seemed a bit like a metaphor for Advent done well.

As I look at various Advent resources, I keep finding people running on ahead - already in Bethlehem, some already with a baby in a manger, some already singing lustily the carols that really ought to be kept in abeyance just a little longer.  Psychologically it's good to build anticipation and tension - to have people aching for the moment that Christmas begins.  Liturgically it's good to take time to travel the journey through scripture visiting prophets and prcolaimers, meeting angels and seeing how the 'big story' sweeps through time.

At church we were given a nativity set - the usual characters and animals all waiting to be placed in a scene.  But we are moving slowly, thoughtfully, sensibly, even gingerly along the path to Christmas.  On Sunday we had just Mary and the angel; next week we will bring in Joseph... and there must be a pause, a waiting until Chiristmas for the storty to develop.  On Advent 4 we may add the ox and ass, signifiying the stable, but baby Jesus will be held back until Christmas Day.  The shepherd (there's only one) will follow, probably on Boxing Day and the wise men (three) will have to wait until nearer Epiphany (though we might start them off in a different part of the church before then).

Advent is not a race, not a mad dash, and Christmas should be the longed-for culmination of aching waiting.  So, whilst I'll continue to enage with those resources that run on ahead, I will stroll along in my wellies, crunching the snow beneath my feet and straining to glimspe the hint of what lies just beyond the horizon.  Advent at a sensible pace.