In Pieces

“Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.'” Mark 13:2

December is here! This means, among other things, that it’s time for Advent calendars. Advent started on Sunday, of course, but reusable Advent calendars tend to start on December 1 (it would be more correct, I suppose, to call them “December 1-24” calendars). Part of our family’s preparation for Christmas is the use of LEGO Advent calendars, of which we have, um, several. It has been decreed, in fact, that not all of our LEGO Advent calendars may be used in the same year. So, this year Anders is using the original Star Wars version while Torsten has chosen last year’s inaugural Harry Potter edition. I’ll be using this year’s Harry Potter installment in my office. If you’ve noticed it’s the Lyle men who are into this, well, yeah.

Anyway, the First Sunday of Advent gave us an eschatological proclamation. The world will come to an end. Not one stone will be left upon another. This is not, however, destruction for destruction’s sake. It is a tearing down for the sake of building up; a death for the sake of resurrection. It is the end of the old earth and heaven so that the new might burst forth, fulfilling God’s promise of a new creation.

As we wait for the coming of Christ, we wait as those who are in Christ. We are newly created, built back up as living stones in the kingdom of God. Maybe LEGO pieces are just the thing to help us remember what God is up to in Advent, building us up in this world day by day while we wait for the Day of the Lord to fully come.

Or maybe I just like LEGO sets! However you are preparing for Christmas, marking the days of Advent, may you be blessed by the God who is putting things back together.

Be well, friends. You are loved.

God of endings and beginnings, this broken world will not last forever, yet you are making all things new. As we mark the days of Advent, build us up in the grace of the Christ who comes to us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: Day 1, Harry Potter all set for the Yule Ball. No, I will not post pictures of LEGO this whole month. I promise.