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Celebrating Advent, 2008

Celebrating Advent

The word 'advent' is Latin for 'a coming or arrival'. The season of Advent for the church means the "coming" or "arrival" of Jesus. The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus - the Christ - in his First Advent, and as well, the anticipation of the return of Christ - the King - in his Second Advent. Advent always begins four Sundays before Christmas Day. In much of the church around the world Advent begins the church’s liturgical year. Advent is a season of preparation. It is not simply Christians acknowledging a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ and the proclamation of “joy to the world”…that all of creation might be reconciled to God.


Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing for Jesus Christ. Do we need Advent in our pre-Christmas season? Most people spend all four weeks of Advent (and then some!) buying or making gifts to give out for Christmas, scheduling Christmas travel, sending out Christmas cards, going to Holiday parties, and getting ready for a big Christmas gathering and meal. By the time it's over, we need a vacation from the holiday! Instead of feeling “joy”, many just feel exhausted and depleted, thankful that Christmas is finally over. That is a sad commentary on this period of time and the church’s lack of thoughtful reflection on the celebration of our Savior’s birth. [Just a note: I am teaching at Mad City Church this Sunday…the first Sunday of Advent…on this theme of “Joy”. You can access the teaching around Dec. 4 at http://madcitychurch.org/listen.asp.]

It has been my personal joy to include Advent readings – both Biblical and devotional in my daily quiet times for almost two decades. It has made the celebration of Christmas much more like a well prepared feast and not a quick stop at a drive through.

Beginning this Sunday, November 30th, and continuing for four weeks until Christmas Day, I’d like to invite you to an Advent journey with me. What do you need to come along? Not much. Come back to this blog as often as you can…hopefully at least once a day. Take some time to read and prayerfully reflect on the themes of Advent. Consider creating space for a time of meditation and reflection on the Incarnation of Jesus, our Lord. Each of these days is an opportunity to PREPARE your heart for the ADVENT of Christ – our celebration of Christmas. If you can do this in a household with others, especially your family, great; but if you can’t, do it yourself. My prayer is that it will make the time before Christmas much more special than ever before.

I’ve prepared many of these Advent meditations, but not all of them. There are some that are quite unoriginal as they represent the thoughts and prayers of Advent meditations I’ve accumulated over the years and therefore the contributions people who love this season as much me. –Elliott, Nov 29, 2008



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