Advent, The Preparation Days of Christmas

"...But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4-5

There have always been two opinions present in the world concerning God and His involvement in our world. The first is expressed in II Peter 3:3-4, "...know this first, that scoffers will come in the last days...saying 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" The world has little use for God under the best of conditions, and it certainly has no interest in a God that has promised some day to intervene by separating wickedness from righteousness and by bringing in a judgment which will forever bind the spiritual forces of evil in order that the Kingdom of heaven might be manifest. The second is expressed a little further on in II Peter 3:11-13 where it proclaims "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." To the first group, the Day of Yahweh (the covenant God) is a religious fable; to the second group it is the sure promise of God that the day of their salvation has come. The difference in perspective is critical. It can mean missing the presence of the Lord and His Kingdom as it had for the Jews at the first coming of the Lord. Luke 10:41-44 "If you had known...the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes....because you did not know the time of your visitation." Or it can mean receiving the fullness of God's salvation at His appearing as it says in Luke 21:28, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads because your redemption is near." The season of Advent is given to us so that we might examine our hearts to see which of the two opinions holds sway within us, for the season of Christmas can either be a season of light and grace (a blessed Christmas), or it remains only a season of merchandising and nuisance (a Bah, Humbug!).

The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means a coming or arrival. It was used in the pagan nations to herald the official visit of important dignitaries or rulers. It was also used to indicate the annual observances and ceremonies in the various temples of the gods. It is an especially good word for the Church to use for in this season we remember the birth of Jesus Christ who is worthy of our homage as the King of Kings, and worthy of our worship as God the Son. Two themes are interwoven throughout the season. The first is penitence and preparation as the season reminds us that we are not all that we should be, that our lives, no matter how we may fill them up, are still empty at their core if we do not first acknowledge our need for God. This theme is visually portrayed to us by the use of the liturgical color violet, the Church's color of penitence and self-examination. The second theme, however, is that of joyful hope and expectation of fulfillment as the season reminds us that God's promises are made "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus Christ. This theme is woven in by the use of the liturgical color rose on Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent.

The tradition of observing four Sundays prior to Christmas Day is ancient within the Church. It is first found in the liturgical books of Spain and France as far back as the fourth century and appears to have made its way to the Roman Church by the fifth century. Although it had some of the elements of a solemn preparation for the Holy Day of Christmas, it was not of the same penitential attitude of the season of Lent. It was better characterized as a season of "joyful preparation" as we mentioned above. By the thirteenth century it appears to have been universally adopted for use within the Church. Some liturgical interpreters have said that the four weeks of Advent are intended to remind us of the 4,000 years of darkness in which the world walked after the sin of Adam and prior to the coming of the light of Christ to dispel that darkness. That certainly expresses the true significance of Christmas Day which we look forward to throughout the season. The season is fixed and variable at the same time; fixed in the sense that it is always the four Sundays immediately preceding Christmas Day, variable in the sense that it moves about on the secular calendar with the first Sunday being the one nearest to the Remembrance Day of St. Andrew. For the Church it marks the beginning of its liturgical year reminding us that we walk according to a time-table which celebrates the works of God's salvation and not just the marking of time in the world.

The four Sundays have their own individual sub-themes as well, as expressed in the prayers and scriptural readings for the day. On the first Sunday of Advent we stir up within our hearts both self-examination and longing. We remember the true condition of our hearts without God, and we cry out with the Apostle Paul in a sense of helplessness "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24-25). The answer comes to us in a moment, "I thank God --through Jesus Christ our Lord!" As we light the first candle on the Advent wreath may we recall when God first kindled the light of life in our hearts. May it shine forth brighter each day that we live. On the second Sunday of Advent we recall the true depth of humility that was portrayed to us in Jesus Christ "Who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men..." ( Philippians 2:5-8) We recall further, that true humility is the entrance-way to the Kingdom. As we light the second candle may we add humility to the light of salvation, for it is the doorway to Heaven; and by it we will shine as the lights of the world. On the third Sunday of Advent we remember that for all His humility and submission to the Father's will, Jesus is still the Christ, God's anointed, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As He came in humility that first Christmas, so He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. As it says in Revelation 19:11-16, "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True...His name is called The Word of God...and He has on His robe...a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords." The mystery of God's salvation is, after all as Paul said in Colossians 1:27 "Christ in you, the hope of glory." As we light the third candle, may we add this hope of glory to our humility and salvation that it might be a lamp to light our way home. And on the fourth Sunday of Advent we at last prepare our hearts to make a straight way for the Lord on the day of our visitation as it says in Isaiah 40:3-5 "Every valley shall be exalted,....every mountain shall be made low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places made smooth." When once our heart is prepared in this way then "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed". As we light the last candle and see them all burning may we recall the fulfillment of Christ's love and the fire of the Holy Spirit burning within us. As these candles say "Complete" may we also be completely ready to receive Him anew in this season.

We must be the people of God who looks for and hastens the day of His second coming by our prayers, our hopes, our lives of godliness and righteousness. May our attitude in this Advent season reflect that which is recorded by the Apostle John in Revelation 22:17-21, "...the Spirit and the bride [the Church of Jesus Christ] say 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely....He [Jesus Christ] Who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen [that is, let it be so]. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!."