In the Christian story, today begins Advent. In Christianity this is….about the

Advent of Christ. His adventure to earth, into our hearts and His coming back into history later. The advent, the intervention onto earth; the One who will advent again. The hope and faith called forth by Advent. One of my favorite christian holidays, Advent ushers in once and future hope.

 Where I grew up the Moravians had a tradition of an advent wreath with candles lit each week in hope heading up to the birth of Christ celebration. We practiced this in our home for the four weeks leading up to the overt celebration of the birth of The baby King-his first intervention through blood, womb and water, into real time. It recalls this birth while looking forward to His returning back into human history.

 It is the wake before. It is John jostling in expectation in the womb, when near Jesus while still in Mary’s womb. It is that expectancy of the Advent of something which would change everything. And it is looking again for His coming into history and real life. It is also John the Baptist looking for the Dove to land on The One who was the Lamb of God. It is that expectant watching for!

Jesus advent-ure to earth, into incarnation, into coming into space and time. That Advent-ture which changed the world, and will again, as we lean into the hope and expectancy, the true faith contained in Advent.

Adventus, in latin, paraousia in Greek.

“Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from three different perspectives. “Since the time of Bernard of Clairvaux (d.1153) Christians have spoken of the three comings of Christ: in the flesh in Bethlehem, in our hearts daily, and in glory at the end of time.”[1] The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming.” One of my favorite holidays, for it covers the whole adventure, and places us in the right orientation to receive The King in real life. It leans us towards Glory! I love the advent orientation to life, we should have it year round, but nice to consecrate a time frame just for that way of leaning our hearts towards….in hope and expectation. It also has Sabbath running through it—to rest in His Being, as we look for His Coming. Great holiday.

No consumerism here, just sheer hope, free hope. And even wonder!