According to Wikipedia’s definition Advent means: a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning “coming”.

Certainly, the commercial world we live in prepares us for holidays and the seasons.  If I remember correctly, Halloween candy was on the shelf surrounded by autumn leaves and pumpkin muffins, followed on the next shelf by rolls of Christmas wrapping paper and red and green candles. Was it October, November or December? None of those mentioned, it was actually Labor Day weekend. Go figure!

Should we invest that much creative energy and effort into our anticipation of our Lord or in our preparations to celebrate His nativity? With excitement, we should enter into Advent Season with eagerness. Many Christian churches have Advent Wreaths of candles that are lit on each of the four weeks leading to Christ’s nativity. The symbolic color of paraments is blue for “the anticipation of the dawn of Christ.” May you direct your attention to His unconditional love and the comforting knowledge that we can honor and celebrate His birth as we look ahead to His Second Coming.

Jill