REJOICE

In one of the great scenes in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, before the Pevensie children have met Aslan—or really even heard of him, Mr. Beaver tells them, “They say Aslan is on the move . . . .” Immediately:

And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different. . . . At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, 64-65.

During the last week in Advent for the past ten or twelve centuries, many congregations have prayed the “O Antiphons,” one each day for the last seven days of Advent. Each one begins with an attribute of Christ, and each ends with a petition that Christ come to us. On Friday, the last full day of Advent, we prayed:

O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the nations desire and the Savior of all people. O come and save us, Lord our God.

O come and save us, Lord.

In Advent we wait. We pray for his coming. We long for his saving presence.

But we know that Aslan is on the move. And that knowledge changes us.

And suddenly He is here—God with us! Desire of nations, the root of Jesse, the promised Messiah has come!

His coming changes everything.

This baby born in the manger is the King of creation, the Lord of all.

God with us. God is with us! Rejoice!

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