Preparing for Christmas during Advent

In December, we will be observing Advent, a season of four weeks when we prepare
our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ at Christmas. The word “Advent”
means “coming” – it is a season of preparing for the coming of Christ to earth. During this
season, we read verses from the prophets who foretold of the Christ’s coming in ancient
times. We light candles, one for each week of the Advent season. As the days grow darker
and colder, Advent symbolically reminds us that God is shining his light into our troubled and
fallen world. All that is shrouded in the darkness of sin, suffering, violence, fear and death will
soon be flooded with the light of Christ’s love and redemption.

Advent prepares us once again for Christ’s first coming to earth as a humble baby born in a manger. Yet,
Advent also points forward to Christ’s second coming, when he will come in judgment and triumph. Advent reminds us that we are living in this painful period between Christ’s first and second coming – the “already” and the “not yet.” We affirm that Christ is already present with us, yet the world is still clearly not as it ought to be. We hear stories on the evening news about mass shootings, terrorist attacks, devastating natural disasters, and threats of war. We see that our society is still bitterly divided over cultural and political issues. Advent is a season that gives us hope that God is working to put the world right – bringing God’s kingdom down to earth. Bible scholar N.T. Wright says, “God’s kingdom…refers not to postmortem destiny, nor to our escape from this world to another one, but God’s sovereign rule
coming ‘on earth as it is in heaven.” Wright further explains, “God made heaven and earth; at the last, he will remake both and join them together forever.” Advent points us toward this hope.

Advent reminds us that God did not leave us alone in our troubled world, but sent his only Son, Jesus the Christ to redeem and heal us. Advent gives us hope as we wait for the Lord’s full redemption at the end of the age. Advent also gives us the courage to act on this hope, working for goodness and justice in our world here and now, until God’s reign is fully realized.

John 1:14 proclaims, “The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” Jesus, the Light of the world has come, and is indeed coming again! May this give you hope and courage this Advent season and always.

Blessings,

Pastor Hilary Livingston