Is Advent about Christmas or something more important? What’s the reason for this season?Luke 3:15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
I wonder what would happen if we were to celebrate Advent every day? Most of us think about Advent when we see the candles being lit in church on Sunday mornings. Some of us even think that Advent is the season when we await the baby Jesus being born amongst us.
But Advent is much more than candles and cribs. It’s not about nostalgically looking back; it’s all about expectantly looking forward.
Looking forward to what, I can hear some of you say? Looking forward to that wonderful day when Christ will return to the Earth in all of His glory, majesty, and power. You see Advent is not about Christmas time; it’s about the end of Time.
We spend so much of the Yuletide holidays singing carols, buying gifts, and wrapping presents, that we’ve forgotten to wait expectantly for Jesus. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the lights and decorations, glitters and garlands, Christmas trees and cards, but they don’t reflect what this important church season is all about.
I often wish that someone would produce Advent cards with a picture of Christ’s Second Coming and these words inside: ‘Are you ready for Christ to return?’ Instead, we will all send and receive ho-ho-ho Santa cards, or ones pictured with snow covered churches and sparkling fir trees, which sadly lead our thoughts away from the Coming Messiah and back to the commercialized manger.
So I guess today’s challenge is this: are you getting ready for Christmas or Advent?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we have largely forgotten what Advent represents. We busy ourselves with Christmas, instead of taking time to remember that You are coming again to completely reconcile Creation, bring an end to Time, and to judge the Earth. Keep us mindful of Your return and help us to wait expectantly each day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
1 comment:
Well, I have to say since I am already in Advent, I am getting ready for Christmas. Prior to Advent, I was getting ready for Advent. But now I am anticipating/waiting/hoping for Emmanuel because our world and lives need Christ.
So, while my actions are Advental, that meaning I am getting ready for Christmas (both on Dec 25th and on that spiritual level when God breaks into the life of a person, church, community, or world, and becomes "flesh" to them).
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