December is a month of preparation. In the church year we are also in a season of preparation called, “Advent.”
Just as we do all kinds of physical things to prepare for Christmas, we also do spiritual things to prepare ourselves for Christ coming.
Advent heralds the arrival of God with us. It is the time when God comes to earth to live as we live, sharing his love with us as we should share our love with Him and among ourselves. Advent prepares us to welcome the arrival of God–The Teacher–who by example shows us how He would like us to live. How we should share His love between our Lord and ourselves and between ourselves and our neighbors.
Last Sunday, we lit the first of the advent candles. That candle represents preparation. It should symbolize our preparation for God’s coming again.
Advent gives us four weeks to ponder where we are in God’s creation of things. It can be the time when we, as individuals, as members of the whole family of God, should turn a mirror on ourselves and look at that reflection.
Jesus suggests that because of the demands our life can put on each one of us, it is very easy to forget what our life should be all about. That we are, because of God; that we have because of Him. Without our belief in God, this world would certainly be a different place in which to live, particularly with the events which have taken place around the world in recent times.
Advent is four weeks when we should reflect on how we might need to heed John’s call to the people.
Advent is four weeks when we should balance our busy schedules with times for stillness and reflection. Stillness allows things that matter to rise up in our hearts and reflection gives us the room to ask ourselves questions that we may not otherwise hear.
Advent should cause us to do two things: watch and wait.
Staying awake and being alert are two Advent behaviors, Christ calls us to do.
