Let It Be

by Jack Bevilacqua

I’ve heard many people complain about the ads and decorations for Christmas starting up even before the Thanksgiving turkey has been lifted from the oven. We woefully note that our whole culture is in such a hurry. Celebrating Advent can be a way of slowing down this wave of commercialism for us. In my former church, we marked the four weeks of Advent by the lighting of candles - waiting to light the center candle on Christmas day. But on Dec. 26th, Christmas was definitely over! Then, depending on how long the needles stayed on the tree, we would begin to remove all the decorations.

Understanding Advent as a season has given new meaning to this time of waiting and has slowed down this whole process. In the Episcopal Church, “Christmas carols” are not sung during Advent. They are reserved until the baby is born. Only “songs of waiting” are sung. Christmas begins with the birth of Christ and continues through those famous “twelve days of Christmas.” Christ is usually born a “preemie” in our culture – delivered way before the due date! So this year I will sing the waiting/longing song: “O come, O come, Emmanuel” at Advent and enjoy the anticipation of singing “O come, all ye faithful” on Christmas Day!

I have yet to encounter a music CD strictly made for Advent, so I have been giving thought to great Advent songs and carols. It occurred to me the other day that this season of waiting and of “The Annunciation” was sung about in the famous Beatles song, “Let it be.” Growing up with this song, I had completely missed that it is based on Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s announcement that she would become the mother of the Messiah. “Let it be to me even as you have said.” Wow, suddenly Paul McCartney’s lyrics gain new meaning.

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

And in my hour of darkness

She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people

Living in the world agree,

There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted there is

Still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,

There is still a light that shines on me.

Shine until tomorrow, let it be.

I wake up to the sound of music

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

There will be no sorrow, let it be.

This year I am letting Mary’s wisdom and the Beatles help me slow down and reflect on this coming birth – the baby is not yet born. I will wait to see God’s plan unfold in my life. LET IT BE!