Embracing Advent
Christmas Worship
Christmas worship in my childhood churches meant singing traditional sacred carols and hearing sermons based on the Biblical account of Jesus’s birth. A children’s Christmas program with recitation of Scripture or poetry and songs sung became a yearly highlight for families. On the last Sunday evening before Christmas, the choir sang a cantata before a packed out crowd. We rejoiced at the miracle of the incarnation of Jesus.
Liturgical Tradition
We did not, however, celebrate Advent. Friends at school used that term when speaking of what happened at their church at Christmastime. I had no idea what they meant. They spoke of it with reverence, which piqued my interest as a follower of Jesus.
I married a man who grew up in the liturgical tradition. He understands the meaning of Advent and Lent, along with Trinity Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, Reformation Sunday, and a host of other special days that blur together for me. My husband is a classical musician who plays the pipe organ and directs choirs. To supplement our income and as an outlet for his talent, he has had a number of church jobs. Most often he has served in liturgical churches. He enjoys the meaning of each week of the church calendar and respects the form of worship found therein.
Advent and Anticipation
My initial read on Advent was that it was a countdown to Christmas. This missed the sacred nature of the celebration. I heard from friends that it meant awaiting the arrival of the Christ child. This explanation confused me since Jesus had already arrived. Were we to pretend as if He hadn’t, followed by pretending we were the shepherds on that first Christmas morn?
What I have since learned is that believers have, for most of human history, been waiting for the arrival of God’s Son. In Old Testament times, Israelites looked for the promised Messiah. They longed for His coming as a light in the darkness, anticipating His deliverance from oppression. Most didn’t recognize His presence while here on earth, believing He would be a conquering King rather than a suffering Servant.
Since Jesus’s ascension into heaven, Christians worldwide have anticipated His second coming. We comfort each other as brothers and sisters in Christ that Jesus may return soon. Experiencing the suffering of this sinful world makes us long for heaven. We look forward to His eternal reign when every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is Lord.
Longing for Heaven
The more I long for life in the presence of my Savior, the more I embrace Advent. I am ever in a state of realization that life as I know it is not where I and all of us Believers are meant to be. We are not meant for this world. We are meant for life in paradise, where Jesus sits on the throne and makes everything right.
This waiting, this Advent, gives me hope. As I countdown to Christmas, I recall the promises of the return of my Savior. Looking ahead to Christmas morning reminds me that Jesus is a promise keeper. He said He would come as Messiah–the Christ, and He did. We can stand in the promise that He will come again and receive us unto Himself, where we will live with Him forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”