Advent - Are You Ready for Christmas?
The season of Advent is like no other. In this season, which are the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, we anticipate the coming of Christ. The word “Advent” originates from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,”
One of the Advent traditions involves the lighting of four Advent candles. A new candle is lit on each of the Advent Sundays with each candle representing the different themes of the season:
Hope
Preparation
Joy
Love
During the Advent season, all of us will be asked this question several times:
“Are you ready for Christmas?”
We know the secular answers most people are looking for when they ask - buying presents, decorating and gathering together over meals. These are all wonderful traditions of the season but not, as they say, the “reason for the Season.”
The Advent season is designed not only for us to celebrate Christ’s birth but also to anticipate the fact that He is coming back again one day. I think that the “coming back” aspect of the Advent season gets a little lost on all of us. His birth is certainly to be celebrated but the fact that He is coming back is as well. His birth brings our Savior to this world. His return will bring us to His world.
“Are you ready for Christmas?”
The next time that you are asked this question, it’s a great opportunity to personally ponder the question - “Am I ready for Christ’s return?” We don’t know when that will be but we are called to be vigilant and ready. Meanwhile, we are to be the “hands and feet” of Christ as we serve others.
“Are you ready for Christmas?”
The question may also be a great opportunity to share your faith with the one who asks by pointing to His birth and eventual return instead of our “to do” lists. God will give us the right words to say if our hearts are in the right place.
He has come and is coming back. That’s a lot to celebrate!
Merry Christmas,
Big E