On Advent

As we begin observing the Church calendar, session has asked me to prepare a series of pastoral letters explaining the significance of each season. We begin with Advent; while the word itself means “arrival,” the season itself focuses on preparing for the arrival of the Son of God in Jesus, celebrated at Christmastide. Advent thus includes the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, beginning this year on December 2, 2007.
It takes but a moment of reflection to realize that in the Bible, Jesus does not come only once. We think of his birth as his First Coming, but he arrived on the public scene (as it were) for the first time when he was baptized by John; this event marked the beginning of his public ministry. Moreover, we live in hope of his Second Coming, when he will come to judge the living and the dead. Thus, Advent does not merely focus on Christ’s birth, but on all the Bible has to teach us about what his coming to the world and to his people means. This fact is reflected in this year’s Gospel texts for Advent.
Matthew 26:36-44 Christ’s Second Coming
Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus Christ
Matthew 11:2-11 The natures of Jesus as Messiah, and of his Kingdom
Matthew 1:18-25 The birth of Jesus, Emmanuel
The Spiritual themes of Advent are thus complex and multifaceted. Sober reflection and repentance are the natural response to the arrival of the Lord and Judge of all. One must earnestly strive to live according to the demands of Christ’s Kingdom, made all the more difficult when the world has made this time of year a frenzied celebration of those things which are passing away. Joy fills the believer’s heart at the realization that all the promises of God contained in the Old Testament have come and are coming to pass in the person of Jesus Christ. These themes are not at odds or in competition with one another, but all come together as aspects of the Christian’s hope in this world. In my opinion, the hymn which best represents the full scope of Advent is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
Perhaps you could sing that hymn, along with others found in the Trinity Hymnal’s “Advent” section, in your times of family worship. Use this season of the Church calendar to search the Scriptures and meditate on the glorious fact that the long-promised Christ and Savior has come and is coming.