Coming, ready or not!

What does advent mean to us? It is a time for waiting, waiting for the right time to celebrate Christmas, the 25th of December, or if you are in Scandinavia, the 24th of December. One of my daughters says the reason Scandinavians open their Christmas gifts on the 24th is because Father Christmas has such a lot to do: he has to deliver the "local" presents a bit early.

Advent is a time for preparing. We are inundated with adverts for gifts we might buy so we are prepared with something nice to give a friend or family member when Christmas day comes. The shops, magazines and tv are overflowing with adverts for the traditional foods and treats we will need to buy in in preparation for celebrating Christmas. We prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Advent is about taking time to stop and think about God incarnate who came to live amongst people. He humbled himself and came down to us, to live among us, to be one of us, fully human and at the same time fully God. The light of the world stepped down into the world. We celebrate the baby in the stable. We also celebrate the coming of the Son of Almighty God, the second person of the Trinity.

Advent is not only about preparing to celebrate his coming, it is also about being prepared for his return. In being prepared for Christmas we need to be prepared to meet him in our everyday Christian lives and be prepared for his return. Everything Jesus ever said would happen has happened, therefore we can trust his word when he says that he will return. He is coming, ready or not!

^"The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him." John 1.9-10

It is hard to wait for something we are looking forward to and each year as advent begins we are challenged to prepare and wait. The preparing is not only about preparing in practical ways but also preparing our hearts, minds and lives to celebrate the coming of God to us. We celebrate that he came - but that was thousands of years ago. The reason it still matters is that he is still here in his people by his Spirit. Not only that; he has promised that he will return. Can we open our eyes this advent time and recognize Jesus for who he is?

Can we set aside ten minutes each day during advent to reflect on Jesus place in our lives? Is our image and understanding of him big enough? Do we recognize him for who he is? How are we going to let our reflections impact our lives in practical ways?