Advent Is Coming

“Advent”, from the Latin word adventus, means “arrival” or “coming”. The Advent season begins four Sundays before Christmas (In the Year of our Lord 2010, it begins November 28.) and serves as a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Since the middle of the Sixth Century A. D., Advent has marked the beginning of the Church Year.

In 1960, my home church in Metairie invited every church family to embrace the “spirit” of Advent by sharing Advent Candlelighting Devotions as a family in the home. The Lawsons first Advent Wreath and Candlelighting could have been our last. My younger brother wanted to light the candle on the First Sunday of Advent. Sadly, when he struck the match against the box the matchstick shattered and a splinter found its way into his eye. Suffice it to say that the “night” was no longer “silent”.

The Season of Advent can be a wonderful time of anticipation and preparation. However, “Anticipation” and “Preparation” require great “Patience”. It can be very hard for us to wait: It has always been very difficult for the people of God to trust God to act in God’s good time (Read Exodus, the Prophets, the Gospels, or the Letters of Paul). I remember the amazement I felt in late August 1987: Beverly and I entered a shopping mall in suburban St. Louis and discovered that the merchants had decided to “deck the halls” with Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa a week before Labor Day. Waiting for God – trusting God – requires the gift of faith.

What can we do to embrace Anticipation, Preparation, and Patience during Advent?

Trust God to act in God’s time. Make time for God’s unfolding revelation of Christ through prayer. Participate in Advent disciplines like daily devotionals (guidebooks are available at St. John’s) and/or the Wednesday noon devotional times which begin December 1 and continue through December 22. Do not miss a Sunday morning service or special event at St. John’s – glimpses of grace are shining even while we wait. Turn off the television and share time with friends and family or savor a special event in the community. Anticipate and Prepare for the coming of Jesus – but remember the urgency of Patience. In the words of an ancient Psalmist, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Trust God to be present in our waiting, in our time of anticipation and preparation. Invite someone to “wait” with you. Remember that Jesus promised to be with us always – through Advent, into Christmas, and beyond.

Trust God to be patient when we want to “leap” ahead to Christmas and are not certain that we can “wait”.

Trust God!