Advent Article for Thanksgiving Edition of the Stanly News and Press (SNAP) 2015
By Rev. Ray Sipe, Chaplain, Trinity Place
Why are we waiting?
Thanksgiving is upon us. As we prepare for the big day
with lots of food, family and friends gathering together, and preparations for
the big game, we may not be aware that Advent is just around the corner,
beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving this year.
For many of us, Advent has become an old churchy thing
that no one does anymore. For others, Advent has become a renewed season of
waiting, preparing, and for some, a time of soul searching and examination. Wikipedia defines Advent as “time of
expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus
at Christmas.”
Advent (from adventus,
Latin meaning coming) is a time of waiting. It literally is a time of
waiting for the second coming of Jesus. This is the time in which we live – the
time between the birth of Jesus and his coming again. We celebrate the season
of Advent in the church as a time of waiting and preparation – both on the
first coming and on the second coming.
As we hear the readings from the Revised Common
Lectionary during the season of Advent, we hear both the anticipation of the
coming savior as a child in the manger, and of the second coming of the savior,
to set this world right and establish the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Our Gospel texts this Advent season come from the
Gospel of Luke. We begin with the end times, Luke 21:25-36, and hear Jesus
describe the second coming. On the second Sunday of Advent, we hear John the
Baptist proclaiming the coming of the messiah (Luke 3:1-6). On the third Sunday
of Advent, we continue John’s proclamation (Luke 3:7-18), and on the last
Sunday of Advent (Luke 1:39-55) we hear of Mary’s visit with her cousin
Elizabeth, and of course, Mary’s Song.
Each of these texts tells of the coming of the
messiah, gives us food for thought to reflect on the meaning of the birth of
Jesus, and of his coming again. As we scramble through the preparations for
Christmas, and end of year, and inventories, and cleaning up the records for
tax time, and all of the many other things that occupy our time during
December, I invite you to spend just a little time, pausing each day, to
consider the coming of Jesus. If you don’t hear these texts on Sunday morning,
I invite you to read them on your own, as your own Advent devotion. Instead of
reacting to all of the things that are happening around you, take a few minutes
to reflect on the birth of Christ, and what his presence means in your life.
For additional Advent devotional resources, simply Google Advent Devotions and
many will pop up. One of my favorite free resources is available at www.luthersem.edu/advent.
You can read it on-line or print it. A large print version is also available.
As we watch and wait this Advent season, we pray: Come, Lord Jesus. Awaken your people. Fill us with your light, and bring the
gift of Peace on Earth. Amen.
