Quiet Isolation

Inevitably, with Advent comes the quickened pace of the Christmas season: concerts, cooking, parties, shopping, decorating and more. But the first Advent brought silence and seclusion. Zachariah was unable to speak, and Elizabeth remained in seclusion for five months. The parents of John (the baptizer)—who would announce the coming (advent) of the Messiah—are silent and secluded. In other words, the coming (advent) of the one who would announce the coming (advent) of the Messiah is met with quiet isolation. Quite the contrast to how we meet advent. By all indications, this will be an unlikely advent. Join me this Christmas as we journey through Advent in some unlikely ways.