Advent is not a season that I celebrated or even noticed 6 years ago. I am thankful to Highland for really bringing me along on the meaning of advent. In many ways I still feel very young in celebrating the idea of anticipation.
Jesus coming into the world as a baby has a lot to say about God. I love the birth narratives of scripture that share such wonder, mystery, joy, and anticipation. You get the feeling that something big is about to happen and that life is about to change in ways we never expected. Then the baby is born and the family flees for its life. Not the traditional story of how a King comes into the world and yet a perfect beginning for what would be a perfect savior for such an imperfect time and an imperfect world.
Jesus' return to the world should be even more than the birth since we know the story of how Jesus will indeed come back with every bit of glory. And yet I feel that we have quit being excited, we understand more than we wonder, we have solved all the mysteries, we feel brokeness and lament every day, and simply we only anticipate our own ending rather than a homecoming.
That's why Christmas is important every year and the celebration of Advent. Because when we celebrate advent we can lay down our mundane lostness and pick up once again wonder, mystery, joy, and anticipation. I do long for my end where I can meet Jesus, however, I more long for the return of Christ where we can all meet Jesus once again. But until then, we wait not with the uncertainty or fear of a Doctor's office, but rather with the great excitement and elation of a 3 year old on Christmas morning.
Maranatha!
Jesus coming into the world as a baby has a lot to say about God. I love the birth narratives of scripture that share such wonder, mystery, joy, and anticipation. You get the feeling that something big is about to happen and that life is about to change in ways we never expected. Then the baby is born and the family flees for its life. Not the traditional story of how a King comes into the world and yet a perfect beginning for what would be a perfect savior for such an imperfect time and an imperfect world.
Jesus' return to the world should be even more than the birth since we know the story of how Jesus will indeed come back with every bit of glory. And yet I feel that we have quit being excited, we understand more than we wonder, we have solved all the mysteries, we feel brokeness and lament every day, and simply we only anticipate our own ending rather than a homecoming.
That's why Christmas is important every year and the celebration of Advent. Because when we celebrate advent we can lay down our mundane lostness and pick up once again wonder, mystery, joy, and anticipation. I do long for my end where I can meet Jesus, however, I more long for the return of Christ where we can all meet Jesus once again. But until then, we wait not with the uncertainty or fear of a Doctor's office, but rather with the great excitement and elation of a 3 year old on Christmas morning.
Maranatha!
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