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Reflection:

How are we to understand the Lamb “who is still to come”?

We can obsess over controlling future narratives because it’s a cathartic practice in the face of all the things we have no control over. Look, we have the responsibility & agency to make choices that affect our life now and in the future. Floss, put on sunscreen, and start saving for retirement are the trinity of yesses you should be making. 

But none of us are in control of this weekend’s weather forecast, the callback from that great first date, our teenage kids’ choices, that bald spot or forehead crease that’s forming, our job security, and so forth.  And none of us are in charge of the inevitable future event that is coming for us all…

Yes, I’m talking about the 100% death rate for humans. 

The vulnerability of dying is deeply frightening. Not just what’s on the other side, but knowing if the powers greater than me that will carry me to the other side are charitable, merciful, full of grace and love?

“Look,” John the Baptist proclaims, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” 

“Who is”. . . . fully loving us now.

“Who always was” . . . loving us throughout. 

“Who is still to come”. . . . restoring us to Love.

Christ’s entrance by way of the human birth canal is the annunciation of this forever restoration. But the reality of our lives is we can be present with the Lamb who is, and we can study about the Lamb who always was, but our human lives most likely will end before we witness the Lamb who is still to come. This is the part of Christ that remains unknown to us. This is the part of Christ we must start a conversation with. 

How do we start this conversation?

By apprenticing our eventual disappearance from this life.

Advent is a season associated with birth . . . but every birth ends with a death. Death is our ultimate loss of control, and we must bring this loss of control to Christ, like a Magi gift. 

By bringing the gift of your life to Christ now, you can grow in conversation with Him about the gift of your life and your eventual death. 

Then Christ, the “One who is still to come,” won’t feel like a complete stranger when you become the “you who is still to come” through your eventual disappearance. 

…

* this meditation is an excerpt from the book Honest Advent.