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Getting Ready for ChristmasNovember 27, 2007"Bethlehem Ephrath, you are one of the smallest towns in the nation of Judah. But the LORD will choose one of your people to rule the nation-- someone whose family goes back to ancient times. 3The LORD will abandon Israel only until this ruler is born, and the rest of his family returns to Israel. 4Like a shepherd taking care of his sheep, this ruler will lead and care for his people by the power and glorious name of the LORD his God. His people will live securely, and the whole earth will know his true greatness, 5because he will bring peace." -Micah 5:2-5 (Contemporary English Version) Before Christmas, there is advent. Christmas marks the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was born into human history. Jesus is the Word of God who "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). We all know before a child is born that there is a time of waiting in expectation. For the church, this waiting season is called advent. Advent comprises the four Sundays before Christmas morning. If advent is the preparation for Christmas morning, one might say that department stores and other shopping venues really get into this season of preparation. Many of them begin preparing in JULY! This kind of preparation is not exactly the heart of advent. Preparing for Christmas is more than shopping for Christmas presents and having parties; it is about preparing our hearts to receive Christ anew. During the advent season the church sings songs such as "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus." Many churches light a candle on an advent wreath every week, leaving the last, center candle, the Christ candle, to be lit on Christmas Eve symbolizing that the light in our dark world has come. "Advent" has its roots in the Latin word adventus, or coming. Why do we continue to celebrate the coming of a birth that has already taken place? As Christians we live betwixed and between. Our savior has already come years ago in Bethlehem, but we wait for Jesus to come again and bring the fullness of God's kingdom here on earth. In other words, we live in the "already, and not yet." In our preparations, we do not merely remember Jesus coming to us in Bethlehem, but we also prepare for his final coming when God's kingdom shall be complete. Advent is a chance to start over. Many of us think of the new year, beginning January 1, as a chance to make things right. We make resolutions that we vow to follow in the year ahead. Rarely do we think of advent as that opportunity. Advent marks the new year in the Christian calendar. It is a prime opportunity to have Christ born anew in our hearts. Jesus was light born into a dark world. He led people out of darkness into light. What dark places abide in you? Where do you need to experience light and hope? Prayer: Come, thou, long expected Jesus, born to set me free; from my fears and sins release me, let me find my rest in thee. Amen. "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus" by Charles Wesley, 1744 For more informationRev. Leigh Martin |
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