Advent is one of those words that everyone hears – and associates with Christmas – but few can actually tell you what it means. It’s actually much more than a descriptor of December in general or a reminder of Christ’s birth 2000 years ago.
The word “Advent” – which comes from the Latin word meaning “coming” – was not associated with the coming of Christ until the 6thcentury. And at that point the focus was far more on his second coming than his first. And they are quite different things. When Christ returns it will not be as a helpless and peaceful baby, but as a conquering king and judge. Because of this, Advent was not primarily a time of joy but of repentance and longing. It was not until the Middle Ages, when Advent was explicitly linked with the birth of Jesus, that it became a season of celebration.
Today, Advent is both a time of remembrance and anticipation. The first two Sundays of this four-week season are spent focusing on Christ’s return, whereas the second two reflect back on his incarnation. This forward-reverse tension is an important one for us to reflect on, because that is the nature of the times that we live in. The promised Messiah has come, but he is coming again. The kingdom of God is here, but not fully. The war has been won, but the fighting continues. By taking four weeks every year to observe Advent, we remind ourselves of this tension.
So as Christmas approaches – as your calendar fills up, decorations take over the mantel, the fridge fills with food and presents crowd the tree – take some time to reflect on the birth of our Savior and to prepare yourself for the day that he returns.