Merry Advent

As December approaches and we put up our traditional Christmas tree, I’ve been moving my thoughts away from writing #nanowrimo and towards the Advent Season.

As I child I remember lighting the Advent candles at church, and occasionally at home. But I don’t remember much behind the meaning or ideas of the Advent season vs the Christmas season. Is there a difference, does it matter? Advent is truly a word we don’t hear too often, but I’m planning to delve in and examine it more this month — even more so as I plan to speak at encounter on Dec. 7th (the 2nd Sunday of advent).

I found this explanation online helpful (that seemed to be repeated somewhat in the Wikipedia entry as well) ::

The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.

In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation, as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live “between the times” and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s inbreaking into history in the Incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which “all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption,” it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

So Merry Advent to you and yours. May we continue to celebrate Christ’s first Incarnation and look forward to his second appearing.