HOLIDAYS
The
Advent Season: Preparing for the Coming of Christ
By Lisa Ryan
The 700 Club
CBN.com – Advent is traditionally celebrated
the four Sundays before Christmas as a means of preparing our hearts for the miraculous
birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The word Advent is derived from the
Latin adventus, which means coming.
"It's
telling and re-telling the story of why God came into this world, the Incarnation,
and also pointing and looking forward to His coming again," notes Rev. Marty
O'Rourke.
Christians typically
celebrate the season by lighting the ceremonial Advent candles and reading Scriptures.
As the candles are lit, the Christmas story is told from its foretelling in Isaiah
to its culmination in the second chapter of Luke. The Old Testament points to
the promise of a Savior.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6, NIV).
The
wreath is always in the shape of a circle to represent God's eternity, His unending
nature. The evergreens symbolize life. We as Christians have eternal life once
we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Nestled inside the wreath
of evergreens are five candles, each representing a significant aspect of the
Christmas story. The first three candles are purple to represent preparation,
the fourth candle is pink to represent joy, and the last is white to represent
Christ. Each candle also has an individual meaning.
On the first Sunday
of advent, the candle of prophecy and preparation is lit.
On
the second Sunday, family members light the candle of proclamation, remembering
the angels who announced the Savior.
The third week, we emphasize anticipation.
For hundreds of years, godly men and women awaited the presence of the King. And
what a joy it was for the lowly shepherds who first experienced the joyous news
of Christ's birth.
After the three weeks of preparation, the joy of the
coming Savior is celebrated with a pink candle. On this Sunday, we remember the
expectation Mary felt as she had Emmanuel, God with us, pressing at her
womb.
On Christmas Eve, one last candle, the white candle, is lighted. Often
the biggest of the five candles and centered in the middle of the wreath, this
Christ candle marks the culmination of the promise of a coming Savior.
Celebrate the occasion with family prayer time, acknowledging the light of Christ
not only in the world, but also in our hearts. On Christmas Eve, as that last
candle is lit, remember the words of Scripture, Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Although
the Advent wreath is one of the most popular ways to celebrate the season, it
is by no means the only way to celebrate. Another fun way to make the holiday
season joyous is by creating a progressive nativity? Start with just the stable.
Watch as the children's anticipation increases as each week a new figure is added
to the scene until finally the Christ child is placed in the manger on Christmas
Eve.
Related story: Renewed
Hope and Expectation: The Church Season of Advent
More from CBN.com's Christmas Section
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