"Advent: (from Webster's 1828 Dictionary) A coming; appropriately the coming of our Savior, and in the calendar, it includes four sabbaths before Christmas, beginning of St. Andrew's Day, or on the sabbath next before or after it. It is intended as a season of devotion, with reference to the coming of Christ in the flesh, and his second coming to judge the world."
A wonderful time of the year for many people is the Christmas season, or "holiday" season as we read in the Sunday advertisement circulars. The wonder is generated by many emotions of various origins - colored lights, decorated houses and stores, acts of kindness, Christmas caroling, home-baked cookies and goodies, traveling to relatives homes for celebrating family.
Admittedly, the "holidays" elicit mixed emotions for many. The sudden passing of a loved one, the loss of a job, the lack of money for the children's presents, an ongoing debilitating health issue, these and other situations make for a depressing time of year for many.
For Catherine and me, Advent was and is a time of family and hope. Our family memories of Advent are evening devotions, candles being lit on an Advent wreath, the singing of Christmas carols, opening of the doors on the paper Advent calendar, Christmas Eve church services, and anticipating opening gifts from those who love us. We continue these traditions with our children today.
Why the hope? Imagine your family being a part of a community that expected to hear from God through various prophets, those who spoke the words given by God. This was your tradition; it had happened for thousands of years.
Now, imagine that your family was a part of the history where God was not speaking. For the past 399 years, God had not spoken. That's a long time; many generations had passed from this earth since the last time a prophet spoke life from the Creator of the heavens and the earth. These were dark days filled with silence.
Then in the 400th year, out of God's great grace and mercy, at the perfect time to fulfill all righteousness, a child was born, God's Son was given. During the course of the next 33 years, Jesus Christ lived a perfect life of obedience because we sin and are incapable, he died the death that we were due because of our sins, and he was resurrected to his place beside His Father to show us our heavenly heritage as children of the King. In the span of a year, all darkness and all silence was ended.
These 33 years of life, death and resurrection by Christ is the only reason we hope. Otherwise, as St. Paul says, "If Christ has not been raised (from the dead), your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." I Corinthians 15:17
We also give thanks to God for His great grace and mercy that He set us here to live at this time of history when Christ has already come, the first advent is completed, and we anticipate the second advent, when Christ comes again to bring home His children.
May the genuine hope of light and the Word of God fill your heart this Advent season as you prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ and anticipate His return. Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
- CFM
A wonderful time of the year for many people is the Christmas season, or "holiday" season as we read in the Sunday advertisement circulars. The wonder is generated by many emotions of various origins - colored lights, decorated houses and stores, acts of kindness, Christmas caroling, home-baked cookies and goodies, traveling to relatives homes for celebrating family.
Admittedly, the "holidays" elicit mixed emotions for many. The sudden passing of a loved one, the loss of a job, the lack of money for the children's presents, an ongoing debilitating health issue, these and other situations make for a depressing time of year for many.
For Catherine and me, Advent was and is a time of family and hope. Our family memories of Advent are evening devotions, candles being lit on an Advent wreath, the singing of Christmas carols, opening of the doors on the paper Advent calendar, Christmas Eve church services, and anticipating opening gifts from those who love us. We continue these traditions with our children today.
Why the hope? Imagine your family being a part of a community that expected to hear from God through various prophets, those who spoke the words given by God. This was your tradition; it had happened for thousands of years.
Now, imagine that your family was a part of the history where God was not speaking. For the past 399 years, God had not spoken. That's a long time; many generations had passed from this earth since the last time a prophet spoke life from the Creator of the heavens and the earth. These were dark days filled with silence.
Then in the 400th year, out of God's great grace and mercy, at the perfect time to fulfill all righteousness, a child was born, God's Son was given. During the course of the next 33 years, Jesus Christ lived a perfect life of obedience because we sin and are incapable, he died the death that we were due because of our sins, and he was resurrected to his place beside His Father to show us our heavenly heritage as children of the King. In the span of a year, all darkness and all silence was ended.
These 33 years of life, death and resurrection by Christ is the only reason we hope. Otherwise, as St. Paul says, "If Christ has not been raised (from the dead), your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." I Corinthians 15:17
We also give thanks to God for His great grace and mercy that He set us here to live at this time of history when Christ has already come, the first advent is completed, and we anticipate the second advent, when Christ comes again to bring home His children.
May the genuine hope of light and the Word of God fill your heart this Advent season as you prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ and anticipate His return. Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
- CFM
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