Advent Begins Tomorrow
Rejoice! Advent calendars coincide for once this year.
Christ has come!
Christ is coming again!1
Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent. It is also December 1. This means that the Advent countdown calendars you can buy at Wal-Mart will actually coincide with the liturgical season of Advent this year.
More importantly, we are beginning the cycle again.
The more I watch the world around us, the more I am convinced that focusing on Jesus is all the more important. So many things labeled “Christian” out there have little to no recognition in the life, ministry, teachings, suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Reading the Bible is important. All parts of it. But it’s all the more important to know who Jesus is and what the Bible is in relation to him.
So tomorrow we begin again.
One of the neat things about Advent is how it serves a pretty strong dual role. For one, it certainly leads us to the season of Christmas. We are reminded of the Israel who anticipates a messiah. We focus on the prophets and their emphases on the fulfillment of justice as they relate to the coming of the messiah.
But at the same time, Advent is a calling to us today of his coming again. Much of the anticipation of the messiah in the first place resonates with what scripture says about Christ’s return. We are, in a unique way, waiting with anticipation for Christ’s second coming as Israel did for the Christ (messiah, king) in the first place.
It is a great season to ask ourselves,
What does it mean for the Christ to enter the world?
What does it mean for the Christ to enter my life?
Luke 1:78-79
Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.”
Prayer
God,
As we begin this season of Advent, open our hearts to anticipate your coming with joy. Help us to see you in the word as the Word, in the world as the hope of the world, and in our lives as the Lord of our lives. May our preparations honor you, and may our hope be rooted in your promise to come again.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
When I was pastoring, this was the call and response we used each week to begin our Advent gatherings (much like He is risen! He is risen, indeed! during Easter). It captures the dual nature of Advent.