Do you remember the movie, “The Color Purple?” That 1986 movie is one of my all-time favorites. It opened me to new perspectives on race, freedom, and all too common family dynamics. A question asked by movie goers then was, “What was the significance of the color purple?” The title comes from a line toward the end of the movie in which Shug says, “[it annoys] God…if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.”
In the world, the color purple often represents royalty. In that movie, it represented beauty in darkness/blackness and in a freedom present even in situations of oppression when truth was faced. It was unexpected beauty present, even in situations of deep troubles.
Purple is a color that you notice. In the church, purple represents solemness, introversion, asceticism and penance. We use in during Advent and Lent. This Sunday we move into liturgy filled with purple. Purple ribbons on Advent candles, purple vestments, purple banners.
Outside of church the world is already filled with red ribbons, poinsettias, and decorations of “comfort and joy.” Outside, it seems Christmas began before Thanksgiving and will end when all the shopping is done. Outside, the message is “This is the season of comfort and joy.”
Why the color purple in church? It offers us a deeper message with which to prepare for the spiritual comfort and joy we hope to find at Christmas. Our readings today can help us see the why.
Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b, 64:2-7
Today’s reading comes from 3rd Isaiah, the part of the book written as the Hebrews were returning from Babylon. The 70 years of exile had been hard, but it had also accomplished some wonderful things within Jewish culture. The exiles had substantially held on to the practices of their lived faith. Since they had no temple, they worshiped the best they could where they were—the beginning of the synagogues of Jesus time. They kept their culture in families, in home rituals, and in the continued community with each other. Scribes had written down most of the books that eventually became what we know as the “Old Testament” or the “Hebrew scriptures”—what we read in our first readings most of the year. The actual written-down Law had gone with them to Babylon, but the king of Babylon had kept it, along with the silver and gold vessels for worship in the temple. (He returned the scrolls of the Law and the silver and gold vessels, as well access to money to rebuild the temple when Nehemiah and Ezra went back to Jerusalem.)
The Law itself was widely unknown. (Read what happened when the people actually heard it in Nehemiah 8.) And because the Law itself was not widely known, people were only generally following it—and following it without that sense of personal relationship, “to see God’s face.” And so, the people were yearning, yearning, yearning for God to COME. “Come, Lord, as you did so long ago!” is the cry of people who’ve made do, but without that sense of direct evidence from God as seen by his mighty deeds of the past.
That cry is a “purple cry,” a longing for God’s closeness. As I read this, I think, “where is my purple cry?” How am I letting myself long for more of God? It isn’t easy in the busyness of Advent. But finding it, feeling it, praying it makes the Christ real when Christmas truly comes.
I Corinthians 1:3-9
Our second reading comes from the beginning of Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. Written from Ephesus about 56 AD, this letter is a letter written in response to problems in this new community of Jews and Greeks. With social skill, Paul doesn’t start with those problems. He begins his letter by addressing the people as who they truly are: people filled with grace and possessing all the spiritual gifts from that grace to become full followers of Christ. Paul then assures them that they have what it takes to persevere in living the life of “THE WAY” of Jesus until he returns at the end of time. Paul and his readers all thought that end of time would come very soon.
Here the color purple speaks of the troubles of Corinth and of our day. If you continue reading Paul, you will see Corinth and our culture had a lot in common. How do I see the color purple now and feel reassurance that I, that we, have what it takes to persevere–as Christians and as Christians who want to celebrate that God came with a human face and life we can imitate?
Mark 13:33-37
I hate to have to tell you this, but it is STILL HOLY WEEK, 2 days before Passover, when Jesus speaks what he speaks today. With the new church year, we are in the Gospel of Mark instead of the Gospel of Matthew. The message is essentially the same message Matthew told in the story of wise and foolish bridesmaids, the talents, and the Final Judgement: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” Mark reports the message and leaves out the parable. But this is still Jesus at the very end of his ministry. These are parting words. (We will return to the beginning of Mark in January.)
Mark was probably the first Gospel written. We do not know who Mark was. He was not an original disciple, nor is evidence strong that he was a close follower of Peter. He writes in what my Jerusalem Bible calls, “kitchen Greek,” that is, the common language Greek of ordinary people. Many of the expressions of Jesus in it have the flavor of the Aramaic Jesus spoke. Mark is a bit earthy, plain, simple, and direct.
Mark’s purpose is to tell the kerygma, the great story of God’s love and the salvation for us that Jesus brought. Mark’s text often reads like a news story—because it is: it is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Mark does not give the details that Matthew and Luke give, though details can be important in Mark. He does not mix story with theology like John does. He is Mark, plain, simple, and direct.
You will find the Gospels this year will be on the short side–like Advent this year. Still, they can be deep and challenge us. For now, how does the color purple help me keep watch for Jesus? For Jesus in the mass? For Jesus in distressing disguise? For prompts from the Holy Spirit to do this or avoid that this month?
Applications
The world around us is already celebrating Christmas. Our readings, the color purple, and music of longing at mass encourage us to focus on WAITING for God and our yearning for the real thing—God Himself, Present and Real.
The world around us is tired of Christmas by December 25. But then is the time to celebrate that God has come! It’s hard to be as counter-cultural as we need to be to think and pray in purple—with longing, self-denial, quietude, and Spirit. So today I put a purple tablecloth on my kitchen table. I’ve started my kerygma tree—with a Sacred Heart ornament on top and God’s creation of the world and of humans on the bottom. I will wear purple to church this week and write my Christmas to do lists on lavender paper. Little things to help me remember Advent–a season to long for God, to pray more, to seek quiet and do good.
Just before Christmas, purple at my house will change to red and gold, but, for now, today, I ask: what do I need to do for Jesus to come more fully in my heart?
A purple question to ponder.
Prayer:
Lord, I love Christmas, and I love to celebrate! But give me now a purple heart—a heart that focuses on what I need to do to be ready for you to come more fully in my heart this year. Help me to wear purple on the inside as well as on the outside. Help me to long for you, seek you, love you. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
