Advent reminds us that God entered history not in power but in vulnerability, standing with the oppressed and suffering. Jesus was born into a community under the weight of empire, experiencing firsthand the realities of domination and injustice. This challenges us to recognize that God’s presence is not abstract but rooted in solidarity with the marginalized. The Word became history, contingency, solidarity, and weakness; but we can say, too, that by this becoming, history itself, our history, became Word. We are called to join this solidarity. As peacemakers, we resist systems that harm, practicing hospitality and standing with the vulnerable. Advent is not a passive season; it is an active call to embody God’s peace and justice in the world. Together, we live as witnesses to Emmanuel—God with us—in every act of compassion and every step toward liberation.
May we embody the Word in history,
living God’s peace and solidarity
in every act of love and justice.
(inspired by Kelley Nikondeha, The First Advent in Palestine; Gustavo Gutiérrez, The God of Life)