Advent is almost here: Got repentance?

November 20, 2018 Uncategorized

Next Sunday December 2 is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the four-week season of Advent.

The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, which means “coming,” or “arrival.” For many Christians today, Advent is the time when they prepare for Christmas, the coming of the Christ-Child. Looking forward to the birth of Jesus is definitely a large part of the season of Advent, but seemingly less important to today’s Christians is the other large part of the season, which is the looking forward to the return of Christ to the world as he promised.

It is easy to get caught up in the twinkle and sparkle of the purple and pink (or blue and pink, depending on your preference) Advent candles as we mark each Sunday of Advent, and forget that we as Christians need to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming back of our Lord Jesus.

Advent is a season of repentance like Lent, when we examine our hearts and resolve to change our behaviors to be more Christ-like, including practicing more love and compassion in our lives. What would Jesus find if he came back to the world today? Would he find you a more loving person, a person who cares for others, especially those who are in pain, those who know poverty, or those who struggle with addiction or with their own identity?

Throughout the season of Advent flows both joy and repentance. It is also a time of hope. Christians can look forward to new beginnings, find ways to improve our relationships with each other and also renew our faith in God. It is important for us to remember the first coming of Jesus and also anticipate his second coming.

The words of Hymn 66 which is in the Advent section of our hymnal underline for me both parts of the season:

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Born thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king,

Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

The Rev. Lorna Williams