start the revolution

“We are sorry for the inconvenience, but this is a revolution.”

                                          Subcomandante Marcos

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it's evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

                                         John Lennon/ Paul McCartney

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We like our Advent expectant

Joy

Hope

Peace

And love

We wrap ourselves up

In the hauntingly somber songs

Of longing

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

We like our Christmas soft

Starry skies

Simple shepherds

Friendly animals

Angel choirs

And a cute little baby boy

Our hearts burn within us

as we sing “Silent Night”

by the of candle light

And so

With the best intentions

We domesticate Christmas

But Christmas is not soft or comfortable

Sorry for the inconvenience, but Christmas is a revolution.

Advent is the prelude to a revolution (Robert Barron)

And Christmas is that moment when the revolution began

That moment when God intruded into human history

And said (in effect)

Look and listen!

And then proceeded to turn everything upside down

Introducing a revolutionary new way of doing life

A crazy, foolish way of life

Where the first are last and the last first

Where you give to receive

And die to live

This is what a revolution of love looks like

Where we change the world

Not by grabbing power and using power

Not by accumulating wealth,

But by embracing the pain of the world,

And lifting others up

By feeding the poor, clothing the naked, housing the homeless

Welcoming the stranger

And changing the systems that lead to injustice and inequity

In Advent we prepare for change

It is a time for introspection

And honesty

It is a time when we open the manger of our heart

And prepare for love to be born

Christmas?

Christmas is when, Jesus alive inside us

we start the revolution