Galatians 4:4-5
Philippians 1:9-11
Advent begins today; Christmas season is here once again.
So what about Advent? Every time we talk about Advent, we talk about a moment of waiting. Advent, generally speaking, is waiting for something that’s coming.
As we adopt that general description for Advent, isn’t it true that all of life is about waiting?
Isn’t our life marked by several waits, both mundane and serious ones?
We are waiting for that elusive diploma.
We are waiting for a delayed parcel.
We are waiting for news from the surgery room.
We are waiting to be noticed by someone we like.
We are waiting for a good compensation.
We are waiting to get pregnant.
We are waiting for an approved working visa.
We are waiting for the weekend to come.
We are waiting for a joyful marriage.
We are waiting for the details of our new direction.
We are waiting for a new car or a new home.
Indeed, all of life is about waiting. We are always waiting.
As we reflect upon these, have you given thought about the emotions evoked every time we wait? If we are honest enough, we would say that normally, we wait rather anxiously and fearfully, sometimes in unbelief. Why is that so? Because the truth is, we are never good at waiting. We love tossing the words, “worshiping while waiting”, when in reality, we are actually sinning while waiting. History tells us humans are never good at waiting.
We did say that Advent is waiting. But we have to be careful not to use those two words interchangeably because Advent is used exclusively. While we wait for cars, jobs, and diplomas that may or may never come, Advent always points to something that is surely coming. So Advent really is waiting for that which is truly coming. Advent doesn’t shut the door on hope. Advent infuses hope; it arouses excitement and joy for the lonely hope-deferred individuals.
This is what this season is all about. Advent consists of the weeks leading towards Christmas—the day Christ was born, manifested in the flesh, as decided in eternity past all for the purpose of saving unworthy perpetual sinners like us. And for us Christians, this is a season that demands deep thought and reflection. We start rethinking where our joy is really latched. Is it on something temporal or something eternal? Is there anything weightier than the salvation of our souls? Is there a greater news than Christ born in a manger? Is there any greater involvement than witnessing this great news of great joy?
Beloved, if today you are broken, troubled, and anxious because your wait seems endless, then let this season teach you that you may not find all that you are wishing for in the vicinity of your home, but the ultimate gift this world could ever have is in your possession. Can anything be greater than Christ with us and us being in Christ?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.”
Moreover, Advent is actually two-pronged. Advent is not just all about the celebration of Christmas. There is also an upcoming advent, a time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth, a time when Jesus will make all things new! Advent then is not merely about the birth of Christ, but it is about everything since the birth of Jesus. We are in this period; we are in a season of waiting. As believers, we all wait for Jesus’ coming again in glory, when His reign shall be on earth as it is in heaven. The glory of that day far outweighs the agony of this present day.
We are always in advent.