Advent
The word Advent comes to us from the Latin meaning “to reach, arrive, to come.” The season of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year; the first Sunday of Advent is the Christian New Year and falls on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew. There are always four Sundays in Advent.
Advent is a season of preparation and penitence. We prepare ourselves to celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas, but we also look forward to his second coming.
The liturgical color for this season is purple (or violet) reminding us of the Kingship of Jesus and that Advent is also a season of penitential preparation. Rose-colored vestments may be used on the third Sunday of Advent, signifying for us a lightening up of the penitential nature of the season as we draw closer to Christmas.
The season of Advent provides us a period of spiritual preparation before Christmas. Our calendar reminds us of the orderly progression of time by using the Church seasons to mark and celebrate the events of Jesus’ life and ministry. The Church has wisely given us periods for meditation, self examination, and prayer before these feasts.
Our scripture readings during Advent remind us of the day when Christ will return. The collect for the first Sunday of Advent, which is to be read every day until Christmas, reminds us to “cast away the works of darkness” – making a new start in this, our Church new year so that we may have victory in this life and eternity with our Lord when this life is over.
Many churches, and families as well, have adopted the charming and ancient custom of using an Advent wreath for family devotions during the four Sundays of Advent. This is a wonderful way of introducing the calendar to children, explaining the teachings of the Church, and establishing the habit of family prayer as the collects and lessons of the day are prayed again.
As we come to Advent, we stand at the end of one year and at the beginning of the next, looking forward to celebrating His first coming and refocusing ourselves to be ready for His return in glory. That’s why the prayer of the Church from the beginning has been the ancient Hebrew word Maranatha — come quickly Lord!
May we use this season of Advent to renew a room for Him in the inn of our hearts. And, Happy New Year!
Text by Donna Downen
