From Cindy De Jong: www.calvin.edu/news/archive/advent-a-waiting-time
The word Advent points to coming—something arriving. And what we’re centered on during Advent is the coming of Christ. It’s a season of four weeks leading up to Christmas preparing for Christ’s coming…It really points to three comings. It’s not just Christ coming at Christmas when the Word became flesh … but it’s also preparing for Christ coming again. It’s this heightened awareness of the in-between time that we’re in—the already, but not yet. Christ has come already, but the kingdom has not been completely fulfilled yet until his return. Then there’s a third coming, which is Christ coming into our hearts.
Darkness and light are strong themes of this season. It so often happens that there are really hard things going on in people’s live during November and December. When you’re looking forward to the coming of Christ, instead of just thinking about the celebration of Christmas with all the gifts and so forth, you get this stronger sense of comfort in the dark times than if it’s all just about buying presents for each other. Because Christ’s coming again is what gives us hope, even if we’re sick or if we’re at the bedside of someone who’s dying. If it’s not just about “Joy to the World” only, but also “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” then you’re given more comfort and peace and hope.
The word Advent points to coming—something arriving. And what we’re centered on during Advent is the coming of Christ. It’s a season of four weeks leading up to Christmas preparing for Christ’s coming…It really points to three comings. It’s not just Christ coming at Christmas when the Word became flesh … but it’s also preparing for Christ coming again. It’s this heightened awareness of the in-between time that we’re in—the already, but not yet. Christ has come already, but the kingdom has not been completely fulfilled yet until his return. Then there’s a third coming, which is Christ coming into our hearts.
Darkness and light are strong themes of this season. It so often happens that there are really hard things going on in people’s live during November and December. When you’re looking forward to the coming of Christ, instead of just thinking about the celebration of Christmas with all the gifts and so forth, you get this stronger sense of comfort in the dark times than if it’s all just about buying presents for each other. Because Christ’s coming again is what gives us hope, even if we’re sick or if we’re at the bedside of someone who’s dying. If it’s not just about “Joy to the World” only, but also “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” then you’re given more comfort and peace and hope.
There are illnesses and accidents throughout the year, but because we really just want to be happy and be with our families, maybe the grief weighs on us differently at this time than at the other times of the year. But I think in some ways there’s more space for it, for worshiping through it during Advent. So many Advent messages, like “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People“ speak so directly to a people that are longing for a Saviour to come and lift them out of darkness into light.
The season of Advent takes place in the four weeks before Christmas. This year the first Sunday of Advent is November 27. You are invited to read stories of love enacted, to hear what Scripture says about doing justice with love—to let love orient your Christmas season. Starting on Nov. 27 the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and the Christian Reformed Church’s Office of Social Justice are providing a devotional series for Advent called “Greater Love”.
The season of Advent takes place in the four weeks before Christmas. This year the first Sunday of Advent is November 27. You are invited to read stories of love enacted, to hear what Scripture says about doing justice with love—to let love orient your Christmas season. Starting on Nov. 27 the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and the Christian Reformed Church’s Office of Social Justice are providing a devotional series for Advent called “Greater Love”.
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