REGARDING ADVENT

Admittedly, it is a bit late to reflect upon the history of the Advent Season which is at this writing already halfway over.

Still, I thought it might be interesting to share some little known facts about this wonderful and sacred time of year.

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. 

Originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.

During the 4th and 5th Centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the Baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s Incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), His Baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and His first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). 

During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration which is now celebrated as the Lenten Season in anticipation of the Solemnity of Easter.

By the 6th Century, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. 

But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the Judge of the world. 

It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.

According to the modern Liturgical Calendar, the season of Advent lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas.  Actually, Advent begins on the Sunday that falls between November 27th and December 3rd each year. 

The Nativity Season which follows Advent begins with the twelve-day celebration of Christmastide, which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6.  Think of the popular song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

Advent itself is a symbol of the present situation of the Church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. 

The Church finds itself in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament. God’s People are in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah.  Just as Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus,  the Church calls for God once again to act for them. 

The Church, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. In this light, the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” perfectly represents the church’s cry in this sacred moment:  O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appears.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

To balance the two elements of remembrance and anticipation, the first two Sundays in Advent (through December 16th) look forward to Christ’s second coming, and the last two Sundays (December 17th – 24th) look backward to remember Christ’s first coming. 

Over the course of the four weeks, Scripture readings move from passages about Christ’s return in judgment, to Old Testament passages about the expectation of the coming Messiah, to New Testament passages about the announcements of Christ’s arrival by John the Baptist and the Angels.

Advent reminds us that our exile in the present makes us look forward to our future Exodus. And our own sinfulness and need for grace leads us to pray for the Holy Spirit to renew his work in conforming us into the image of Christ.

We believers live in a time between the fulfilled promise of Christ’s first coming and the  yet-to-be-fulfilled promise of his second coming.

Though it is difficult to keep a spiritual focus during the happy distractions and busy-ness that are all part of this wonderful time of year, it would be beneficial to remember God’s love for us manifested in the Incarnation of Christ Jesus, a promise fulfilled yet still to be fully experienced.

May our hearts be joined to Christ during Advent and all through the days of our lives.