Friday, November 30, 2018

Advent Words: A is for Arrival


Welcome to Advent Words 2018!


A is for Arrival

"And the glory of the LORD will be revealed" ~ Isaiah 40:5
Today's readings are Isaiah 40:1-5 and Revelation 22:20.



The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning coming or arrival. The season of Advent is the time leading up to Christmas that is both a time of remembrance and anticipation. We join with the ancient Israelites in their anticipation of the coming Messiah, the Christ. But their anticipation is our remembrance. We look back on the events leading up to the birth of Christ, celebrating the arrival of what they anticipated and longed for. We join in their anticipation and longing as we look ahead, waiting for the arrival of Christ's second coming, when He will come for His people. It is because of this looking back and looking ahead that Advent has been called a "two-fold gaze". For Jesus is both Emmanuel ~ God with us ~ now, and He is also coming soon.




Advent is a season of waiting, longing, reflecting, and preparing ~ all based on the hope we have in Christ. Augustine said, "The whole life of the good Christian is a holy longing. That is our life, to be trained by longing. You do not yet see what you long for, but the very act of desiring prepares you, so that when He comes you may see and be utterly satisfied." The Advent season is a time to slow down and join with the Christians of past ages as we anticipate the Christ's arrival. We, the church, are His Bride, and Advent is the time we set aside to prepare for the arrival of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

   "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life....He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." ~ Revelation 22:17, 20



Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.


6 comments:

  1. Hi Mary; I am not going to participate in the journal this year, but I will be reading all your posts because they are so meaningful. Thank you!

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    1. No problem, Diane. I'm glad you will be journeying with us through the readings. :)

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  2. I am spending Advent in a nursing home this year, and your words are flowing over me like water in the desert. Thank you so very much.

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    1. I'm glad they bring you comfort and encouragement. Praying for your healing and recovery, Trece.

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