by Nick Osborne
Nov. 28, 2024
O come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel~ Advent Hymn
Have you ever spent time at the airport arrivals lounge watching people greet each other? You see people come around the corner or walk through the doors with fogged glass and their faces light up with smiles and squeals of delight. Sometimes tears are shed from the sheer joy of greeting a loved one.
Think of the days leading up to that moment. What goes on inside of you when someone you love is about to visit – perhaps a child returns home for a holiday or an old friend from far away finally comes to town? Chances are we are full of anticipation and prepare to receive our guest with joy. We may even clean the house and polish the silver!
Whereas the joy of greeting reflects the season of Christmas, this anticipation and preparation is what the season of Advent is all about.
The Season of Advent
It is unfortunate that Christmas in the West begins the day after Halloween (at least in the stores). After two months of endless music, marketing, spending, and "spirit of Christmas" we feel so overexposed we can't wait to pack it up and move on to the New Year.
That's not the way it used to be. Traditionally, Christmas season began on Christmas Day and was only twelve days long (hence the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas"). Even when I was a child, we didn't get a tree and decorate it until after my sister's birthday on December 16.
Instead of two months of Christmas, historical Christian communities practiced delayed gratification (delaying the feasts and joyous celebrations) in order to first travel through the preparation of Advent. The season of Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (this Sunday coming) and is the time set aside by the earliest followers of Jesus to prepare for the mystery celebrated at Christmas: the arrival of God with us, God incarnate.
In stark contrast to our contemporary consumer culture's Christmas glitz, Hallmark movies, and "buy-more-or-you-don't-love-them" attitude, the historical church took a different approach. You wouldn't hear carols or see a Christmas tree in the church sanctuary during Advent – those festivities were reserved for Christmas. Instead, Advent was a more solemn season, akin to the season of Lent before Easter.
Is Advent relevant today?
In short, yes, very much so. In fact, Advent is probably more relevant today than it was originally due to the consumer culture it pushes against.
Why? Because during Advent, we set aside these four weeks to prepare ourselves to receive the great mystery of Christmas into our hearts. So just as we might clean our house in preparation for the arrival of a special guest, church tradition asks us to take stock of our souls and be at our best when the special day arrives. The practice of self-discipline during Advent helps us to make more room for joy so that we are fully prepared to receive the Lord when he comes.
What do you mean "when Jesus comes"? Isn't he already here?
Churches often recite the short prayer "Come, Lord Jesus" during Advent. But why would we pray for the Lord's coming when he has already been born among us? This is the paradox of the season: advent is a time of tension between the already and the not yet. While we anticipate the coming of Christ in Bethlehem, we also look forward to his second coming at the end of time. The first advent points to the last.
The word advent means “coming,” and refers to all the ways Christ comes into our lives: past, present and future. The Latin word is a transliteration of the Greek epiphaneia (from which we get “epiphany”) which was usually used in reference to the appearance of a king or queen, or (in pagan times) a god or goddess. This reminds us that even while we are remembering God's arrival in the flesh of a humble infant, we also prepare for the arrival of the triumphant Messiah, whom prophecy said would be a king.
Thus, throughout Advent, followers of Jesus prepare their hearts not only for the celebration of Christmas, but also for these many ways Christ breaks into the world – past, present and future. We prepare for the celebration of the anniversary of God's first coming into the world; we prepare for the many ways in which he comes to us now; and we look forward to his future coming in glory at the end of time.
During Advent we dwell in that space between the promise and the fulfillment, praying for the Lord Jesus to “come.” As we remember the day that Christ was born, and as we look forward to the glory of his kingdom, we also come to the profound realization that God breaks into our lives even now.
PAUSE and REFLECT
How busy is your Advent season? Do you already have parties and dinners on your calendar? Are you feeling too busy or concerned your social calendar may exhaust you?
How expensive is your Advent season? Do you feel pressure to buy gifts, and perhaps even match (or exceed) the amount that others will spend on you?
In the midst of all this, where might the Holy Spirit be inviting you to quietly and soberly prepare for the arrival of Jesus once again? Maybe the arrival of Jesus in your own heart and life once again?
NEXT STEPS FOR A BETTER ADVENT
1. Pause often to give thanks the many ways Jesus has broken, is breaking, and will break into your world. Name it when you see it and thank him in that moment.
2. Set margin into your calendar. Perhaps limit yourself to a certain number of nights out at events (both work and family) and book at least one 24-hour period every week where you will enjoy rest and solitude.
3. Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Maybe have the hard conversations with people (family, friends, co-workers) where you agree to not buy each other gifts.
4. Follow The Wild Way on Instagram to receive three reflective Advent posts each week - a brief interjection into your busy week to invite a moment of respite and peace.
--- This devotional contains some edited excerpts from God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas by Greg Pennoyer & Gregory Wolfe (eds.). Paraclete Press (2007).
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