Advent

              The month of December – until the 25th day – is called the time of advent.  The meaning of the word “advent” demonstrates the vigor and vitality of the English language.  The word comes from the Latin and Middle English “adventurs” from the 12th century.  It means “the arrival, coming or discovery of something extremely important.”  Today, if you see the word without a capital letter, it has the same meaning.  For example, you may have read about the “the advent of Pasteurization “or  ”the advent of the computer.”

              But many years ago all Churches took over the word and spelled it with a capital A, which gave it an entirely new meaning: the arrival of or coming of the Christ Child, celebrated on December 25.  The Church believes the birth of the baby Jesus was something special and extremely important.  Now Advent is an important part of both the Roman Catholic and Protestant church worship calendar to prepare people for the birth of the boy baby over 2000 years ago.  Christian theology also defines the word “Advent” as the reappearance of Jesus as judge for the Last Judgment, or what many Christians call “The Second Coming.”

              Now Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.  During worship on each of these Sundays, Hope, Joy, Peace and Love (one each Sunday) are lifted up to emphasize the real meaning of the beautiful message of Christmas.  The color purple serves as the primary color of the Advent season.  Purple represents penitence and fasting as well as royalty and a time of meditation and reflection for all those anticipating Christmas Day.

              In his book, The Clown in the Belfry, Fredrick Buechner writes, “Advent is like the hush in a theater just before the curtain rises.  It is like the hazy ring around the winter moon that means the coming of snow which will turn the night to silver.  It is the promise of what is coming is an unimaginable invasion.  The mythology of our age has to do with flying saucers and invasions from outer space, and this is unimaginable enough.  But what is upon us now is ever more so – a close encounter not of the third kind but of a different kind altogether.  An invasion of holiness. That is what Advent is about.”

              Whether or not you choose to believe “an invasion of holiness” as part of your  Christmas, I have no doubt you have many traditions that you anticipate and celebrate at this time.  Thus, I wish you all the hope, joy, peace and love which make up your Christmas activities and celebrations during this Advent season.  Merry Christmas!