Advent: A Time of Hope and Anticipation
This year, Advent begins on the first Sunday of December.
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “arrival.” During Advent, we reflect on Jesus’ first coming to Earth and look forward to His second coming. It’s a time to prepare our hearts for the celebration of His birth.
More than just a countdown to Christmas, Advent is a season for us to explore the depths of God’s love as expressed through the birth of Jesus Christ.
As we delve deeper into this Advent season, let’s turn our attention to the themes of hope and anticipation by understanding the past, embracing the present, and looking forward to the future:
- Look back to the past: Consider the prophecies in the Old Testament that foretold the coming of the Messiah.
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
- Embrace the present: Recognize that Jesus is with us today. His presence is manifest in the sacraments, the Scriptures, and the people around us.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
- Look forward to the future: Anticipate the second coming of Christ and the fulfillment of God’s promises.
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7)
One of the central themes of Advent is hope. It’s not just wishing on a star; it’s a strong belief based on God’s promises.
- Hope in the Past: Imagine the Israelites waiting for the Messiah. Their hope was strong because of God’s promises, and those promises came true when Jesus was born. As we ponder these ancient promises, we can appreciate the depth of God’s plan and the fulfillment of His promises.
- Hope in the Present: We can experience the hope that arises from knowing that Christ is with us. This hope is what gives us joy, love, courage, and the strength to keep going in our Christian lives.
- Hope in the Future: We can’t wait for the day when Jesus comes back and makes everything perfect! Instead of worrying about our problems, we can focus on God’s amazing promises for eternity. Our problems don’t seem so big when we know that God is in control and He’s going to work everything out for His glory and our good.
As we journey through the Advent season, let us embrace the spirit of hope, patience, and anticipation. May we open our hearts to the love of Christ and prepare ourselves to celebrate His birth with joy and gratitude.
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