Advent is a season of waiting for the arrival of something very special, isn’t it? For children, it is often about waiting for the arrival of Santa, or discovering what might be in the packages under the tree (or hidden in a closet), or special cookies, treats and a birthday party for Jesus. For adults, this season can have many mixed emotions because of the pressures we often put on ourselves, but it is also the anticipation of the beauty of the lights, the music, the reunion of family members, and our own personal traditions and memories. Those are all delightful parts of the season we call Advent.
But did you know that throughout the centuries Advent was not simply about the first coming of Jesus? Along with the celebration of the arrival of the Messiah at His birth was the consciousness of His arrival in our hearts and in our midst every hour of every day and the awareness of His promise to come again. This much broader and deeper awareness of what they celebrated during these 4 weeks before Christmas brought them to a place of reflection, repentance and renewal. It was an opportunity to take purposeful time to decelerate, to be still, and to not only remember His coming as a baby, but to look for His presence in the moment and to consider that Jesus is coming again. As the hymn says, “Marvelous message we bring. Glorious carol we sing. Wonderful word of the King. Jesus is coming again. Oh, what a wonderful day it will be. Jesus is coming again.”
How about you? Could it be that considering the “3 comings of Jesus” – His birth, His presence now and His promise to return – would expand and enhance every day that is left in this Advent season of 2024?
“Blessed are all who wait for Him!” – Psalm 30: 18