"Sleeping is Giving In": A Very Special Arcade Fire Advent Reflection (Part 2)

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

+++Ephesians 5:13-14 (ESV)

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 

+++Romans 13:11-12 (ESV)

The Scripture readings during the season of Advent typically focus on two people who integral in readying the earth for the coming of Christ: Mary, his mother and John the Baptist, his cousin. Much can and has been said on both these people, but for now were are going to focus in a bit on the place John the Baptist has as a forerunner to the coming of the world's Savior.

"We Used to Wait": A Very Special Arcade Fire Advent Reflection (Part 1)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God...For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:18-19,22-25 (ESV)

  I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD

  in the land of the living!

 Wait for the LORD;

  be strong, and let your heart take courage;

  wait for the LORD!

+++Psalm 27:13-14 (ESV)

Advent is a season of waiting. And waiting for anything can be tough.

Continual Themes and Subjects in the Work of Arcade Fire (a list)

I just posted a list, an index if you will, of every Arcade Fire song that contains a reference to light, darkness, day, night, and anything having to do with mirrors or "reflektors"

But here now is another list of common and continual themes found within their work. If you take their work as a whole it really is amazing how much the same subjects and topics and imagery keep coming up.  Sometimes I actually reference a song that contains the theme just mentioned.  In no way is every song represented in every category--there just was not time to do this.

An Index: Arcade Fire Songs Mentioning Light, Darkness, Mirrors, and Reflections

"Look into the light...Look hard into the light..."
Related Post: "Continual Themes and Subjects in the Work of Arcade Fire (a list)"

For several years now I have been made powerfully aware of a theme that runs throughout a significant amount of the work of my (current) favorite band, Arcade Fire. The theme began to occur to me after I started digesting the lyrics to their 2010 work The Suburbs. I began forming some critical (as in "literary or music criticism") thoughts about their lyrics but nothing really gelled until they released their current album Reflektor.  It now became apparent to me that they are obsessed (obsessed I tells ya!) with imagery surrounding light, darkness, day, night, mirrors, and reflections.  In fact, it permeates a great majority of their work.