2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
   In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
   His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
4 His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.
5 Before him went pestilence, and plague followed at his heels.
6 He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations;
   then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways.

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Historically, indeed until very recently, the difference between Advent and Lent was the number of days it was observed. It has only been in the last century that the focus of Advent has shifted from that of introspection and penitence to hope and expectation. You may be thinking, “big deal, aren’t they linked together?” Well, not really. Hope and expectation are an encouragement to keep pressing on, to move forward, which we all need thanks to the hectic pace of modern society. Introspection and penitence however, look backwards to reflect on where we have already been, to see those events that tripped up our progression forward, and make corrective adjustments to see that they do not occur again. More importantly, our glance backwards should show us clearly the evidence of God’s handiwork in our lives and world and compel us to ask ourselves where is God’s hand presently at work?

It is to such reflection that Habakkuk’s prayer in our text calls us and why we would do well to treat Advent more like Lent. We journey through Lent in the shadow of the Cross, seeing the horrific affect those previously mentioned tripping moments in our lives have in the life of Jesus. We journey yes, but we also rest assured in the greater light emanating from an empty tomb and I fear that makes our penitence more lackadaisical. Hence, my assertion that Advent should return to being more like Lent, for the shadow cast from a helpless babe in a manger should arrest us in our tracks. Habakkuk reminds us that God is powerful, for at God’s direction nations shake, hills sink, and seemingly immovable mountains are scattered. And yet, this all powerful God cast aside such power, splendor, and might to become a helpless babe. Stop for just a moment and hear the gentle breathing of the babe sleeping in Mary’s arms and ask yourself is there any sin or imperfection, any tripping hazard that you may hold on to, that is equal to the baby in the manger and how can you persist any longer in it?

Beloved, the manger’s shadow is a not so subtle reminder that God’s character always points to remembering mercy and when we remember that, through introspection and repentance, we are reviving and making known the work of God in our times. Can our prayer today be that of Habakkuk’s? Can we use these last days of Advent to adequately prepare ourselves to stand with the shepherds at the manger in awesome reverence of the mercy of God, knowing that God’s undeserved mercy is given all for us? I am confident that if we do, the approaching new year will be one in which we will see the immense work of God in our world revived and known afresh.