Advent: To Come To
The word “Advent” is a Latin word meaning “to come to.” We celebrate it in mainline denominations each year in the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. In one sense it is a time of preparation. To prepare our hearts for the savior born in humble beginnings and to prepare us for the second coming of this savior who will save us from this earth once again. Our God is a transcendent God so the preparation for what has happened and what will happen is the same in a very basic sense.
Advent is a beginning.
In another sense Advent is a beginning. There is no more waiting. Our King is here. We rejoice that God is with us.
Which brings us to another perception of Advent, the sense of wonder. Who are we that God Himself puts skin on and lives among us? What kind of love is this that He endures all that we endure? Why would He choose to do that?
This year we need Advent like never before. We went into the Pandemic during Lent – a time of somber reflection – and in a very real way we are still in that season. Advent will allow us to turn that reflection into a time of preparation for the beginning of something new and the hope for what is to come. It will allow us to truly wonder once again who is God that He want to be “with us”? Who is the Emmanuel?
From December 1 – 25, I’ll be writing daily focusing on words that speak to my soul. Each word has a Biblical connection and can help us live into the season of Advent. The words would make a good focus for Centering Prayer each day but they can also help us get into some Holy Mischief.
Your Advent challenge is this:
Purchase one item each day for your local food bank and write a word of encouragement on each one. You can use one of my words or some of your own. You can write a lot or a little. However you choose to live out this challenge know that you are not only feeding someone physically, you are also feeding them spiritually.
My list of words is below. Let Advent begin!
Until Everyone Hears,
- Joy
- Peace
- Kindness
- Love
- Hope
- Wonder
- Compassion
- Happiness
- Generosity
- Abundance
- Growth
- Presence
- Prayer
- Life
- Family
- Worship
- Rejoice
- Health
- Salvation
- Light
- Wisdom
- Prepare
- Return
- Comfort
- Remember