What is Advent anyway?

Today, is the last day of November.  Yesterday, Christians all around the world celebrated not an ending but a new beginning:  the beginning of the season of Advent.  Some folks know that Advent focuses on expectation and anticipation of Christ’s birth as we near Christmas.  This is part of the story, but there’s more to Advent.

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4^th and 5^th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (see Matthew 2:1), his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (see John 1:29), and his first miracle at Cana (see John 2:1). During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.

Advent is not just about looking back and remembering the birth of Christ Jesus and the preparation that was made for centuries for His coming.  No, Advent is also a time to look ahead as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. The church is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis they called for God once again to act for them. In the same way, the church, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. In this light, the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” perfectly represents the church’s cry during the Advent season:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

Have a good week and a holy Advent season.  -  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   O Lord, who has come and who is coming:  we wait with eager longing for your coming in this holy season.  Give us hearts attune to your Spirit to see you among us even in the things small and insignificant;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.