A Reflection for Advent
In the third movie of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the kingdom of Gondor finds itself in the crosshairs of the army of Mordor. They are vastly outnumbered and under-resourced. There is basically no hope, unless they can summon help.
Since the Steward of Gondor is too proud to call for aid, Gandalf goes behind his back, and lights the beacon at Minas Tirith. In an epic scene, the camera follows the beacons from mountaintop to mountaintop, passing the message from the kingdom of Gondor to the kingdom of Rohan.
When the distress signal reaches Rohan, Aragorn spies it, and dramatically bursts into the king’s chambers shouting “The Beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!”
This, to me, is what Advent is all about. It is a fire in the night, on a lonely mountaintop, signaling hope in midst of despair. It is a cry for help, but a cry that knows it is being heard. It is victory delayed, but victory assured, when we put our trust in a faithful God and a forthcoming Messiah.
We feel this hope in the scene of the movie, when Aragorn cries out “Gondor calls for aid” and the reply comes a moment later, “and Rohan will answer.”
We need help. We can’t do this life on our own. And when we are not too proud, we light the Beacons. We call for aid.
And when we call for aid, our Messiah will answer.
May God give you a blessed Advent.
