Last Sunday marked the
first Sunday of Advent, the season of preparation for the birth of Jesus
Christ, and the beginning of the Christian year. According to the United
Methodist Book of Worship, “Advent is a season
of four weeks including four Sundays. Advent derives from the
Latin adventus, which means "coming." The season
proclaims the comings of the Christ—whose birth we prepare to celebrate once
again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final
victory we anticipate. Each year Advent calls the community of faith to prepare
for these comings; historically, the season was marked by fasts for
preparation. Each Sunday of Advent has its distinctive theme: Christ's coming
in final victory (First Sunday), John the Baptist (Second and Third Sundays),
and the events immediately preceding the birth of Jesus Christ (Fourth
Sunday).”[1]
The first
“coming” we prepare for is fairly obvious, especially in a commercial world.
Christmas music starts playing as early as Halloween, as retailers entice
us to find the perfect gifts for those we love. This distracts us from
recalling the birth narrative, including the angel's visit to Mary, the birth
of John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, the birth of the
savior of the world in a barn, and the visit of the shepherds. The humbling
events that lead up to Jesus' birth show just what kind of a child he was. It
is important that we remember the events leading up to Jesus' birth, as well as
the birth, itself.
The
second “coming” is a remembrance of the presence of the Messiah with us in
“Word and Spirit”. This is a reminder that we do not look at Jesus as simply a
fact from history, but that we see him present in the world around us. We see Jesus present in the faces of those
around us who are hurting, who need to be ministered to in the name of Jesus
Christ. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks of those who are served or not served
as being the least of his brothers and sisters. So Advent is a reminder that we
are called to serve those around us.
The third
“coming of Jesus” we remember during Advent is the second coming, or the
apocalypse, the end of the world as we know it. Throughout Scripture, including
sayings of Jesus, we hear of the signs of the end of the world. These signs of
the end of the world are not meant to cause us to live in fear! Rather, they
are signs for us to live our lives as though every minute might be our last;
that when we see wars, famine, and disasters, they should be a reminder for us
to be constantly working to bring about the Kingdom of God. Being Christian
does not mean being afraid; it means living in a way in which we offer hope and
joy in a world that can sometimes be discouraging, fearful, and painful. We should be a light for those who live in
darkness.
This
Advent, let us be a people of preparation. Let us open our hearts and minds to
the coming of Jesus Christ. Let us offer hope to those who feel life is
hopeless. Let us offer peace to those
whose lives are full of conflict. Let us offer love to those who feel they are
unlovable. Let us offer Christ, as we prepare to receive him once again.
[1]
United Methodist Book of Worship, Nashville; The United Methodist Publishing
house, 1992, pg. 238
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