Advent
begins a new church year and is designed to prepare us for Christ’s coming both
personally and cosmically. Advent 1 deals with Jesus’ Second Coming. It is the
one Sunday of the year that is totally given to the doctrine, although the
Epistles lesson in Advent urges us to patiently wait for the Lord’s return. The
Prayer of the Day cries for the Lord to come. The Hymn of the Day calls for us
to prepare for Christ to enter our lives. The Gospel lesson emphasizes the need
of constant preparedness for Christ’s return because the time of his coming is
unknown. The Epistle lesson urges us to put on Christ as preparation for his
coming which Paul considers to be soon. When God comes to us, according to the Old
Testament lesson, all nations will have their differences settled and peace
will return.
—Psalm118:25-28; antiphon, Zechariah 9:9b —In
the Introit for Sunday, we pray Behold you king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation. Fulfilled prophecy is one feature which
makes Christianity so appealing. Throughout the season of Advent we will find
prophecy after prophecy which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Here is one among
so many that the Lord as king would come to His people. During this busy and
important season we prepare for Christ’s return in glory and we make ready our
hearts and minds to celebrate His birth. If we prepared for the former we will
be in the right frame of mind for the latter.
This week finds us preparing both for
Thanksgiving as well as the start of the Advent season. There is much for us to
plan, organize and get ready for the celebration which will soon commence. In
the midst of all of your arranging take time to ponder the importance of this
season. Christ has come to set us free from the bondage of sin, while at the
same time He continues to provide for all that we need to support this body and
life. Your life is ordered by Him who loves you. He provides for all you would ever
desire. Fare thee well child of God. Fare thee well!
[1] For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church
Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Advent copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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