In the West, it seems that a lot of people purchase Advent calendars in the latter months of the year, which are usually packed with small gifts, chocolate, or toys. These calendars seem to have some Christian tradition attached to them. However, precisely what is it? Is it related to Christmas in any way?
Advent is a time of expectant waiting
[The birth of Jesus Christ is honored on December 25]. Advent is the season that precedes this Christmas feast. The Latin word “Adventus,” from which the name “Advent” is derived, literally means “coming.” We are waiting expectantly for the return of Jesus Christ throughout this time. Advent begins four or six weeks before Christmas, depending on the church tradition one follows.
First and second coming
Advent is a season of waiting for Jesus’ return at his second coming as well as preparation for the celebration of his birth. Then, as Jesus ascended into heaven, He made a vow to return and build his kingdom in addition to becoming a human in order to save humanity.
Take Matthew 24:30–31 as an example: “Then the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the earth’s tribes will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with great power and glory.” With a loud trumpet call, He will dispatch his angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the top to the bottom of heaven. During the Advent season, we remember and reflect on the two comings of Jesus: the first one at Christmas and the second one that we are currently anticipating.
Jesus’ coming in our hearts
Christians particularly consider the third “coming” of Jesus Christ during this time of year. The [appearance of Jesus in our hearts] is this. We can only benefit from His work of salvation and be shielded from His judgment if we allow Him to reside within us.
In Ephesians 3:14–19, Paul is pleading for that. In order for Christ to reside in your hearts through faith, I bow down before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. May He grant you strength through His Spirit in your inner being according to the riches of His glory, so that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Counting down
Advent is marked by a number of customs, such as lighting one candle for each week leading up to Christmas or counting down to the holiday with daily devotionals. Advent calendars originated from this. These originally had “windows” for each day of Advent with a Christmas-related theme. A Bible phrase or prayer was shown in each window, thus using the Advent calendar would guide one through the season and encourage contemplation of Jesus’ arrival.
Commercial Advent calendars
Some advent calendars from today still do that, and it’s a wonderful way to intentionally [enjoy] the Advent season. However, a lot of Advent calendars now only include a vibrant scene with chocolates, tiny toys, or something similar in place of the Christian message. Thus, these calendars are merely a commercial version of a rich, centuries-old tradition and have nothing to do with Christmas.
Reading through Advent
If you would like to observe Advent in a Christian manner, you can do so by using an Advent calendar or even just a Christmas reading schedule. Consider, for instance:
- Book of Common Prayer
- Good News of Great Joy
- The Dawning of Indestructible Joy.
If all of this seems overwhelming to you, just concentrate on the Gospels’ Christmas tales:
- Matthew chapters 1-2
- Luke chapters 1-2
- John 1.
Have a blessed Advent!
