Advent: December 11 – Look Up, Your Redemption Is Drawing Near

Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Luke 21:28

Let’s not fool ourselves. “Your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28), whether we realize it or not. The only question is: Will we allow it to come to us, or will we resist it? Will we join in this movement coming from heaven to earth, or will we close ourselves off from it? Christmas is coming—but whether it includes us or not depends on each one of us.

True Advent brings something very different from the fearful, weak, and discouraged attitude we sometimes see in Christians. This attitude often makes Christianity seem unworthy. But Advent is introduced with two powerful commands: “Look up and raise your heads” (Luke 21:28 RSV). Advent creates new people, and we are called to become new people during this season.

Look up, you who only focus on what happens here on earth, caught up in small events and daily changes. Look up, you who have turned away from heaven in disappointment. Look up, you whose eyes are heavy with tears and whose hearts are weighed down by the pain and struggles of this world. Look up, you who feel too burdened by guilt to lift your eyes. Look up—your redemption is near.

Something different from the ordinary will happen. Be aware, stay alert, and wait a little longer. Wait, and something completely new will come to you: God will come.

You know what a mine disaster is. In recent weeks we have had to read about one in the newspapers.
The moment even the most courageous miner has dreaded his whole life long is here. It is no use running into the walls; the silence all around him remains.… The way out for him is blocked. He knows the people up there are working feverishly to reach the miners who are buried alive. Perhaps someone will be rescued, but here in the last shaft? An agonizing period of waiting and dying is all that remains.
But suddenly a noise that sounds like tapping and breaking in the rock can be heard. Unexpectedly, voices cry out, “Where are you, help is on the way!” Then the disheartened miner picks himself up, his heart leaps, he shouts, “Here I am, come on through and help me! I’ll hold out until you come! Just come soon!” A final, desperate hammer blow to his ear, now the rescue is near, just one more step and he is free.
We have spoken of Advent itself. That is how it is with the coming of Christ: “Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Bonhoeffer’s Advent sermon in a London church, December 3, 1933

^{Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. God Is in the Manger : Reflections on Advent and Christmas. Louisville, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, 2012.}