With the reality of war, poverty, and inequality close to home and around the world, it can sometimes feel like ourselves and our neighbours are standing among the rubble of a society not built for the flourishing of all. But as Christians, we know the birth and life of Jesus, and our call as the church to be light in dark places, means that there’s hope amongst this rubble.
In this year’s Advent course, Hannah Ling, Social Justice Advisor for the diocese, looks at the themes of Advent alongside topics of social action and justice, focusing on Community Organising principles and tools and how you might be the hands and feet of Jesus this Advent and beyond. Lay and ordained church leaders from Milton Keynes, Oxford and Reading also share their inspiring real-life stories of social justice in action.
Hope Among the Rubble is available on the Learning Hub, and you can read Hannah's first of four reflections below.
“How long o Lord?”
Expectation, hope, yearning for change, a deep desire for a better world...
These are all words or phrases we’d use to describe the period of Advent. As we enter the next four weeks, we put ourselves in this mindset of waiting, preparing ourselves for the birth of Jesus, reflecting on who He was and became, and what He did during his life, death, and resurrection.
When we look at the world around us, we can easily find ourselves hoping and yearning for the world to be different – for poverty and inequality to be erased, for fair and compassionate governments to rule, for healing for our bodies and renewed mental health. For better opportunities and fairness for those we love, for an end to the bloody wars around the globe, for reconnection and social cohesion across diversity, for our own lives to be better, and for us to know God’s presence more closely. We may often find ourselves asking ‘How long O Lord?’, just like David did in the Psalms (Psalm 13:1).
The Jewish people were yearning in similar ways; as they waited, hoping and praying for the arrival of the promised Messiah, someone they believed would set everything right.
In Isaiah 9:2-7, we read of a prophetic vision of who the coming Messiah would be.
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Here, we hear of the prophet Isaiah’s foretelling of someone who...
- brings light to a world full of darkness
- brings joy, rejoicing, peace, and abundance
- provides freedom from oppression
- is more powerful than governments and regimes
- upholds justice and righteousness
About 700 years of waiting passed between this prophecy and Jesus’ birth - 700 years of waiting, hoping, and yearning for things to be different.
Collective power
Times of waiting, and of yearning for change, are key elements of Community Organising methodology too. Community Organising is about bringing people together, to build collective power, to take action, and find solutions on issues of common concerns and social injustice. Community Organising is one model to enact change and is centred around the importance of community relationships to build collective power. It believes that its vital to have people with lived experience sharing their stories and leading campaigns.
The Revd Angus Ritchie is significantly involved in Community Organising in London, as well as supporting churches to get involved across the UK. In his report People of Power: How Community Organising Recalls the Church to the Vision of the Gospel, Angus expresses how it’s not enough for the church to have a ‘heart for the poor’. Instead, he says, the poor must be at the heart of the church. Angus observes how engaging in Community Organising ‘recalls the church to that vision, placing those who experience injustice at the heart of the struggle for social justice.’
When we work together for change, through Community Organising or other routes, we don’t usually get what we ask for immediately. This means there’s a waiting period of yearning and hoping. But this waiting doesn’t have to be passive or empty – in Community Organising this time is about many things: building relationships; raising leaders; research; planning, campaign action; and negotiating with decision-makers. But even active waiting, like this, requires patience and persistence.
In the context of Advent, we can reflect upon how our waiting for the birth of Jesus is also a kind of active waiting. We anticipate Jesus’ coming and reflect on the huge shift this brought for humanity. The people of God had been waiting a long time for this ‘Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’.
Active waiting
Today you may find yourself yearning and hoping for a restored world, or wondering how to to be part of bringing something of the Kingdom of God to earth. You may already be involved in ushering in that better world, shining light in shadowy places, and being God’s hands and feet. In this active time of waiting during Advent, let us ask for the Christ Child, Jesus, to be present among our yearning for things to be restored and transformed, and in our patient and persistent pursuit of a better world.
One beautiful example of this comes from St Frideswide's, Water Eaton. The Revd Ayo Audu shares a story of waiting in hope from their parish.
Are you already involved in initiatives, projects, or tasks that are helping build a better world through growing community or responding to poverty or injustice? Take a moment now to pray for this work, the people at the sharp end of poverty or injustice, and all those you’re working alongside as you seek to alleviate suffering and find solutions to injustice.
If you’re not currently involved in anything of this nature, consider how or where God might have opened a door for you to get involved. How might you be part of the beautiful tapestry of God’s people bringing flourishing, seeking justice, and embodying Jesus? For some ideas of where to start, have a look at the poverty and inequality pages of the diocesan website.