By Chuck Davis
Sentinel Columnist
The word “Advent” is from the Latin Adventus, which means “coming.” Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year (in the Western churches) and encompasses the span of time from the fourth Sunday before Christmas until the Nativity of Jesus is celebrated.
The liturgical color adorning the church for this season is purple to designate the royalty of Jesus as King. Advent is a preparatory season. There is an invitation in its very name to get ready to meet Jesus in a fresh way. Historically, the church emphasized the Second Coming of Jesus as opposed to looking back primarily to his birth. In fact, the Book of Common Prayer does not use readings from the birth narratives of the gospels during the month of December.
We can understand why the Second Coming was so important to the historical church as early Christians often experienced direct opposition to their faith. Words such a “tribulation” and “persecution” were not merely metaphorical or social for them. Opposition was an actual physical reality in their lives.
Worshipping a king who was coming back to rescue them was essential to keep their hope alive!
Though doctrinally the Church refers to the two Advents of Christ, Bernard de Clairvaux, the 12th century French monk, preached on the three advents of Jesus. Here is a paragraph from his sermon:
“We know that there are three comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two. It is invisible, while the other two are visible. In the first coming he was seen on earth, dwelling among men; he himself testifies that they saw him and hated him. In the final coming all flesh will see the salvation of our God, and they will look on him whom they pierced. The intermediate coming is a hidden one; in it only the elect see the Lord within their own selves, and they are saved. In his first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming he comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming he will be seen in glory and majesty.”
I love this image of Jesus coming to us personally between his more visible advents. But to me it is more mystical than invisible. I see Jesus pretty clearly everyday in the actions of people around me, as they hold out faith, hope, and love to one another and to a needy world. I feel privileged to be part of such a community.
To this end I pray the following prayer over our community:
Jesus, our prayer again this Advent season is that your coming into our hearts will renew our HOPE as we wait and be transformed to visible HOPE for others who encounter us during this season. So fill us up and flow from us in the course of each day. Amen.
The Rev. Dr. Chuck Davis is senior pastor at Stanwich Congregational Church.
