Sunday: What is Advent?
“It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
The first season of the Christian year, Advent, is a late-comer to the church calendar, having been officially designated in the ninth century. It begins with the Sunday nearest November 30 and lasts until Christmas Eve. One liturgical color for Advent is purple, representing both the royalty of Christ and our need for repentance.
Advent means coming, and its main theme is preparation. John the Baptist had the mission of preaching repentance to the people of his time. We now understand John's work as that of preparing for the coming of the Christ. John baptized his followers as a mark of their repentance. But he taught that when the Christ came, there would be baptism by the Holy Spirit. We remember John today because he fulfilled his calling to point the way to Christ.
That mission becomes ours during these four weeks before Christmas. We are called to prepare ourselves, our homes, our churches for the One who is greater than John.
For Reflection: Is Advent an important time for me? Why/why not?
A Prayer Seed:
On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of kings!
Charles Coffin, 1736
