Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3 NIV)
For those not familiar with Advent, it is the start of the Christian calendar. During the four weeks leading up to Christmas day, historically, a Christian was encouraged to prepare for the celebration of Christ’s first coming to earth with penance and fasting. Each week of Advent has a theme, week 1- hope, week 2- peace, week 3- joy, week 4- love; these themes can be enriched with many Scripture passages, family activities, and personal reflection.
Lent is a similar preparation season for Easter but lacks themes, I believe the themes of Advent can provide some reflection topics for Easter.
On Hope
Think about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as told in Luke 24. They were discussing all that had happened when Jesus appeared with them. Jesus asked what they were talking about, they stopped short, sadness written across their faces. “We had hoped he was the Messiah…” (v.21) Hope was destroyed by Jesus’ death and the women reporting the disappearance of his body. Hope was restored in a seven mile walk where Scripture was revealed to them by the Word, Jesus.
On Peace
John records the final teachings of Jesus during the last Passover, he is preparing the disciples for what was coming. He promises his gift of peace. “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). His peace is the end of death, and separation from God. It is wholeness and completion beyond what we can comprehend.
On Joy
Very early on the first day of the week, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. Upon arrival, they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Angels appeared to them, commanding them to tell the disciples that he had risen, what joy must have accompanied that news. In one telling Mary Magdalene came back to the tomb with Peter and other disciples, Jesus appeared to her, but she did not recognize him, when he reveled himself she joyfully called him Rabboni, she had seen the Lord was her declaration of joy to the disciples (John 20:11-18).
On Love
“How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we might be called the children of God. And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). “This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). As I reflect on the disciples, especially Thomas and Peter, I am reminded that his love is great enough to erase doubt and strong enough to offer forgiveness and empower action for the Kingdom of God.
As I remember these seasons on the calendar, I am convicted of my role as a librarian in a Christian academic setting to not only address informational needs but to proclaim the hope, peace, joy and love of the resurrected Jesus to each person I meet. May you also proclaim these themes in your libraries this Easter season.
Sarah Davis
Sarah is the Access Services Librarian at Corban University. She has been an ACL member since 2014 and currently resides in Salem, OR.