The Insistence of God: A Theology of Perhaps (Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion)

by John D. Caputo

God comes to exist in our response; our deeds constitute the “effects” the name of God has in the world.

Jesus's favorite example was love, which comes to a head when we are asked to love the unlovable. Kierkegaard's example was faith, which acquires teeth when it means to believe the unbelievable (the absurd). Paul said hope means hoping against hope.

No matter what the official calendar in Christendom may say, in the kingdom of God it is, as a structural matter, always Advent, the advent of the event, preparing our hospitality for the event without adorning ourselves with the pieties of religion and ascetic practices. The sermon concludes with a perfect advent prayer, “That we may be a little town into which Jesus may come and be received…may God help us to this. Amen.” In my unauthorized translation this reads, Viens, oui, oui.

Advent reflection.