Advent 1

November 27, 2022

So it begins. Advent 2022 is upon us as we begin this season of watching and waiting. For those like myself who were not raised in the tradition of Advent, it is tempting to see it as the time we prepare for Christmas, and in a way, that is so, but it isn’t the real purpose of the season. The Lectionary Scriptures for Advent are always prophetic, whether it is Isaiah speaking of a child who would be born, a Son given, Micah telling us where the Messiah would be born, or the Revelation of John speaking of Jesus’ return when “every eye shall behold him.” 

The real focus of Advent is on Jesus’ second coming, and the necessity of our preparing ourselves for that event. We look back to the prophets who saw Jesus’ first Advent as a way of learning how we are to look forward to his second Advent at the end of the age. The look backward is not an end in itself, just as looking forward to the Christmas celebration of that first coming is not the end of the story. We look back so we can look forward with the faith of the prophets who expected bad times, but were confident that no matter how bad things got, God was still in control. 

Isaiah told us to “wait upon the Lord” as a means of renewing our strength for today. Waiting isn’t just sitting around twiddling our thumbs. When we go out to dinner, someone waits on us. They are busy serving, doing their best to make our dinner the best experience it can be. In the same way, we wait on the Lord, serving him as best we can until the day Christ returns. 

This being said, Advent has begun for us. Traditions take over. Linda and I set up and decorated our tree last night. The star at the top (yes, it’s the same one as in “A Christmas Story,” and the one that topped our tree when I was growing up), and Mr. Monkey (I won him at a shooting gallery when I was six years old) just below, and then the rest of the ornaments can be hung. I confess to a bit of nostalgia, but our confidence isn’t in somehow recreating our childhood Christmases, but in looking forward to Jesus’ return by preparing our hearts right now to serve him no matter what the culture says. The Christmas lights are on, but even better, the light of Christ never goes out. May we shine brightly so Jesus can be seen in us. November 27, 2022

So it begins. Advent 2022 is upon us as we begin this season of watching and waiting. For those like myself who were not raised in the tradition of Advent, it is tempting to see it as the time we prepare for Christmas, and in a way, that is so, but it isn’t the real purpose of the season. The Lectionary Scriptures for Advent are always prophetic, whether it is Isaiah speaking of a child who would be born, a Son given, Micah telling us where the Messiah would be born, or the Revelation of John speaking of Jesus’ return when “every eye shall behold him.” 

The real focus of Advent is on Jesus’ second coming, and the necessity of our preparing ourselves for that event. We look back to the prophets who saw Jesus’ first Advent as a way of learning how we are to look forward to his second Advent at the end of the age. The look backward is not an end in itself, just as looking forward to the Christmas celebration of that first coming is not the end of the story. We look back so we can look forward with the faith of the prophets who expected bad times, but were confident that no matter how bad things got, God was still in control. 

Isaiah told us to “wait upon the Lord” as a means of renewing our strength for today. Waiting isn’t just sitting around twiddling our thumbs. When we go out to dinner, someone waits on us. They are busy serving, doing their best to make our dinner the best experience it can be. In the same way, we wait on the Lord, serving him as best we can until the day Christ returns. 

This being said, Advent has begun for us. Traditions take over. Linda and I set up and decorated our tree last night. The star at the top (yes, it’s the same one as in “A Christmas Story,” and the one that topped our tree when I was growing up), and Mr. Monkey (I won him at a shooting gallery when I was six years old) just below, and then the rest of the ornaments can be hung. I confess to a bit of nostalgia, but our confidence isn’t in somehow recreating our childhood Christmases, but in looking forward to Jesus’ return by preparing our hearts right now to serve him no matter what the culture says. The Christmas lights are on, but even better, the light of Christ never goes out. May we shine brightly so Jesus can be seen in us.