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December 1, 2008

The Season of Advent has begun, and the first candle of the Advent wreath has been lighted.  The popular mind tends to see in Advent the lead up to Christmas, and I suppose there is really no way of eliminating that view.  However, the purpose of Advent is to emphasize our readiness to receive the Second Advent of Christ, the Parousia, the return of Christ in power and glory to judge the living and the dead.  The motifs of Advent are wakefulness, alertness, paying attention, waiting expectantly.  Amos and other prophets have described the Day of the Lord as one of darkness and terror, but to the faithful Christian the Day of Judgment is not to be feared, but humbly expected.  We will be judged, and under God's grace through faith in Jesus, we will receive God's mercy and welcome into the everlasting Kingdom, prepared for God's faithful from the foundations of the world.

Advent is not quite as austere as Lent, but there are elements of Lent to be found in the Season.  We wait expectantly through prayer, fasting, Bible study, and acts of kindness and mercy in the name of God.  In Lent we are moving toward the Passion of Christ; in Advent we are moving toward the return of our Lord.  In both instances we are preparing.  Though the Incarnation of God in the baby Jesus seems to be the aim of Advent, it isn't really.  Advent presents us with an opportunity for something of a spiritual tune-up, a reminder of who we are as people of God, as disciples of Jesus.  We are called to awake anew to our purposes in this world as we seek to serve others as Jesus commanded us.  We are becoming ready for the return of Christ by living day-by-day the life of faith, following the example of our Lord.

We at St. Paul's wish you a powerful, meaningful Advent season.

Blessings, Peace,

Sherrill D. Curtis, Pastor