Advent Preparations

In the Christian calendar we began a new year last week, and have begun the season of Advent. The word advent means “coming” or “arrival.”  We use these four weeks prior to Christmas Day to prepare ourselves for the celebration of that which is to come. This season also helps us focus on what has already arrived. We prepare to celebrate a holy and life-changing historical event. This season is an important prelude to a proper celebration of the experience we call Christmas.

Many words could be used to describe this season – words like joyful, busy, colorful.  Or perhaps, hope, expectancy, anticipation.  We might also describe the season as anxiety producing, or filled with commercialization.  As a season in the church calendar, Advent is the most difficult to observe properly.  Calendars fill with activities; special events and opportunities are abundant. We are all aware that the secularization of Christmas seeks to dominate the reason for the observance. Advertising is filled with reminders that it is time to do our gift buying. Once again we are tempted to get caught up in the shopping frenzy, and all the other activities that contribute to the “business of the holidays.”

Our preparations include many things – some of which actually contribute to the joy of the season:  decorating our homes with lights and trees, gift-buying, and sending cards to those we will not see during the holidays. Perhaps we are even inspired to become more generous and thoughtful of the needs of others. We do so because we hope that these things will make the observance more meaningful.  In the midst of all the secular activities and enticements this time of year includes, it is our responsibility as Christians to make proper preparations for the observance of this holy season called Advent.

So what preparations can we make so the secular observance doesn't dominate the religious and spiritual dimensions of Advent?   This season calls for an exploration of the meaning and message of the biblical faith for our lives. It is only then that the season will have special meaning. We must not become so busy that we fail to take time for spiritual devotions and activities that strengthen our faith.

 

The Old Testament prophets spoke words of hope that called for preparations. The mandate was that people of faith had to do something, not simply be spectators. In ancient days when a king planned a visit to a distant part of his kingdom he sent a messenger ahead to announce this planned visit so they could make preparations for his coming.  In those days the roads were in poor condition, so the people were expected to repair the roads so the king could make the journey.  Often the roads had to be straightened so that they could become passable.  No doubt this is what the prophet Isaiah had in mind when  he wrote these words:  “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.  Every valley and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of the Lord.” 

This image of preparing a highway is still challenging and meaningful for us today. It reminds us of the preparations that must take place for welcoming the King of Kings!  It suggests that we need to undertake spiritual preparations to prepare our hearts and minds for Christ’s coming more fully into our lives, shaping us into his likeness.  We are asked to look at the rough and crooked places and low spots in our own lives that make it difficult to welcome Christ   fully into our lives in this Advent/Christmas season.

In the New Testament the gospel of Luke captures for us the real story of Christmas. Reading the stories found there helps us prepare to receive anew the gospel message for our lives.  We need to take time to read the age-old story that never grows old and hear the angelic announcement to the shepherds of what God has done on our behalf.  Throughout its pages the New Testament reminds us that we have some work to do to become all God desires of us. We need to participate in the spiritual disciplines of faith that draw us closer to God. We need to join in the church‘s activities and ministries to experience the joy of Christian fellowship.  We need to find ways to share the blessings we have received with others. These are the kind of preparations that will enable us to discover the true meaning of the season.

   

I enjoy watching some of the television specials aired during this season.  One of my favorites is “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”  As the story unfolds, Charlie Brown has become depressed and seeks advice from his friends on how to get into the spirit of Christmas.  He gets involved in directing a Christmas play, only to find out that most of the characters have missed the meaning behind the whole story.  In desperation he goes to find a proper tree to decorate for the Christmas pageant.  He finds one of the shabbiest trees you’ve ever seen. He decides it needs a home so he makes his selection and hurries off to show the tree to the others so they can decorate it for the pageant.  But they can’t believe his selection!  Their responses are over-whelmingly negative.  What place does an ugly tree have in a Christmas pageant? Surely something bigger and more beautiful would be more fitting for such a special occasion. The story ends with a magic twist that could only be called a miracle. That scrawny, unwanted tree becomes a thing of beauty. The message of Charlie Brown’s Christmas story for me is that God can make something special from even the simplest and sometimes seemingly unfit.  Our preparations don’t need to include elaborate decorations or buying the biggest and best gifts we can buy. We simply need to let our preparations be motivated by child-like love which comes from the heart. In this lies the meaning of Christmas.

  

We all get caught up in the activities of the season, but many will simply go through the motions, and miss what the main event is all about. Our world needs modern day prophets to speak as a voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.”  Perhaps you can be that voice for someone who needs to hear the meaning and purpose for Advent preparations to welcome the Christ once again.

Charles Wesley captures the hope and expectation of this season in one of his hymns as he wrote:  “Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people red; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee…  May this be our experience as we prepare once again to celebrate the gift of God’s love in the birth of Christ!