Advent: A Season of Preparation and Anticipation

Advent is a term that the ancient Christian Church borrowed from the Latin language and Roman culture. In that language and culture, advenio meant "coming," or "arrival," for example, the coming of good news, or the arrival of an important person or special holiday. Since those ancient times, and continuing today, many Christians celebrate Advent, a season of four Sundays, just prior to Christmas, at the beginning of a new liturgical year and provides a fresh start for life and faith and worship.

The lessons for each of Advent's four Sundays prepare us for the birth of the Christ Child and the coming of the Messiah, which takes place at Christmas, and also for Christ's Second Coming at the close of the age. In this season of Advent we are called to read Scriptures that exhort us to remain alert and faithful as we await our Lord's return - Scriptures that also teach us how prophets such as Isaiah, kings such as David, and forerunners such as John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah.

An Advent Reflection
A voice cries out, "Prepare in the wilderness a road for the LORD! Clear the way in the desert for our God! Fill every valley; level every mountain. The hills will become a plain, and the rough country will be made smooth. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it. The LORD himself has promised this." Isaiah 40:3-5, Good News Translation

Advent is a time for preparation:
We prepare lists of things to do; We prepare lists of things to buy; We prepare lists of names for sending greeting cards; We prepare to decorate our homes, trim a tree, plan a Christmas dinner We spend hours of time in preparation Preparation is also a time for anticipation: We anticipate having a great holiday celebration; We anticipate reunions with family and friends; We anticipate the excitement in giving and receiving gifts. Within the preparation and the anticipation, do we make time for waiting? Waiting in quietness to hear God speak Waiting in wonder to know Christ being re-born in us; Waiting in silence to experience the Holy Spirit enfolding us. Let us prepare, anticipate, and wait during this season of Advent. God of my quiet times, you know how difficult it is to be still when I am busy preparing to celebrate Your birth. Give me the will to create quiet spaces in the everyday, as my life gets busier.
Amen.

This Advent Reflection was prepared by Ranjini E. Rebera, author of two American Bible Society creative Bible study guides and a consultant on communication and gender issues.