ADVENT Why Bother?

First, a bit of history is needed. In the year 274 A. D., Roman Emperor Aurelius decreed that the citizens of the Roman Empire should celebrate what he called "the Feast of the Invincible Sun" on December 25th, the winter solstice.

Christians in Rome - either to combat this practice or to give Christians an alternative festival - adopted December 25th as the birthday of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.

Advent can help us prepare to celebrate the alternative festival - a truly Christian Christmas - in our churches and in our homes.

Use Advent to help you find your way in a culture in which many have lost theirs.

Live distinctively as a witness to those who have lost their way,
that they too can find peace and joy by receiving
God's greatest gift, Jesus Christ.

Use Advent to receive our Lord who comes to His people and works through them today.

Live distinctively as a witness to those who feel abandoned
that our Lord comes to comfort and strengthen us through
His Word, water, bread and wine.

Use Advent's four short weeks to undertake spiritual activities which, like exercise for our bodies, can clear our minds, cleanse our lives and nourish our faith

Live distinctively as a witness to your Lord
who gives focus and purpose for your life.

THE THREE ADVENTS OF OUR LORD

He Came, He Comes, He Will Come Jesus came as a baby born in Bethlehem, destines to be the Messiah promised by the prophets and announced by John the Baptizer. Jesus comes into our lives today, as we share the Gospel, share His Supper, share His word of forgiveness and share in the fellowship of the baptized in His Church. Jesus will come again to "make all things new and judge the world in righteousness."

What We See and Hear

Advent

A Latin word meaning the coming or arrival of the Lord. The season of Advent begins the new liturgical Church Year on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.

Advent colors

Purple is the ancient color of royalty, signaling the coming of our King. The more recent use of blue symbolizes the hope of God's people.

Advent wreaths

Their circle of candles represents our hope in the Light of the world, whom the powers of darkness cannot overcome. We light a new advent candle each week.

Advent calendars

These calendars count the days of Advent in December until Christmas. Opening the windows of an Advent calendar daily reminds us where our eternal hope lies - with the holy Child in a lowly manger.

Advent Jesse Tree

Named after King David's father, the tree is decorated day by day with ornaments displaying Old Testament heroes, reminding us that our faith's roots are in God's Ole Covenant promises to the ancient Jews.

Emmanual

Emmanual or Immanuel is Hebrew for God is with us. In Jesus, God came to live with us.

Son of David

This is the title for the long-awaited descendant of the great Jewish king David who would be chosen by the Lord from David's family and town (Bethlehem) to lead His people.

Messiah

Messiah is Hebrew for annointed one or chosen one, like the Greek word Christ.

Righteousness

Righteousness means holy, pure and faithful, and doing what is fair and just. Although God's people strive to be righteous, they fail. But the Lord who has promised in His covenant to stand by His people, then and now, gives us His righteousness - His Christmas present in Christ.

Repent

Repent is the cry of John the Baptizer and the prophets generations before, calling the Lord's people, then and now, to change their hearts and lives, to prepare to welcome their God.

Antiphons

The Great O Antiphons are ancient verses heard in worship during the week before Christmas. These verses name Jesus with grand titles: O Wisdom, O Sacred Lord, O Flower of Jesse's Stem, O Key of David, O Radient Dawn, O King of All Nations and O Emmanuel.

Sunday Scripture Readings

The Advent Season's dual message of somber and yet joyful anticipation echoes through the memorable Sunday Scripture readings we hear during Advent.

Prophetic words fill the first weeks of Advent. They begin with Isaiah's vision of an angry Lord who sees that "we are all unclean," followed by Jesus' own vision of His return to gather the chosen few at the last Day.

The next week we hear a counterpoint of promises from Isaiah and good news for God's people: Be comforted! Your penalty is paid. Hear the good news of liberty, of the Lord's favor and of an everlasting covenant.

In the third week we hear Isaiah's words that Jesus later applied to Himself - the Spirit of the Lord is upon me ... to bring good news to the oppressed ... the year of the Lord's favor"

In the final week of Advent we hear God's promise to King David, set alongside its fulfillment, the angel's announcement to Mary.

Advent - Why Bother? is written by King Schoenfeld for Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Drive, Fenton, MO 63026.

© 1999 (800) 325-9414