Daily Advent Devotional

The season of Advent begins this Sunday, December 2, in the Western Church. I will be providing a short daily meditation on Scripture each day leading up to Christmas. The meditations will be based upon the daily office readings in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and will focus on the Old Testament readings from the Holy Prophet Isaiah. I pray that all who journey with Isaiah toward Christmas will be challenged and refreshed as they celebrate the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior and look forward to his coming again!

The Season of Advent

Joyful Expectation and Thoughtful Preparation

Origins

Advent simply means “coming” and is derived from the Latin adventus. During the four weeks before Christmas we look forward to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ as king and judge at the end of time and look back to his coming as our Savior 2,000 years ago. In the West the tradition developed by setting apart the four weeks prior to Christmas as the season of preparation. The Eastern Christian churches prepare for the birth of the Savior by observing a fast for forty days similar to the fast observed during Lent.

Themes

The Incarnation: we celebrate the fact that God became man in order to save us. The Second Coming: we look forward to the time when Jesus will come again to usher in his mighty reign. Preparation: we examine our hearts, our relationship with God and with others and seek to grow deeper in our relationship with Christ in light of the Incarnation and in preparation for the Second Coming.

Advent Customs

The Advent Wreath: The circle of the wreath and the evergreens that make it up both signify God’s endless mercy and undying love. Three purple candles and one rose-colored (pink) candle are evenly spaced around the wreath. There is one larger white candle in the center of the wreath. The candles traditionally symbolize hope, love, joy, peace and the Incarnation. The evergreens represent eternal life. Each week, an additional candle is lit. As the light grows brighter, we are reminded that the Light of the World will soon arrive in glory.

Fasting: abstaining from certain foods and activities teaches us to hunger and thirst for God and his Kingdom and reminds us of our dependence on him.

Prayer: conversing with God draws us deeper into union with him strengthens our life-giving relationship with the Author of Life.

Almsgiving: giving to the poor reminds us of the call to care for those around us in need and to share the blessings that God has given to us.