Nothing under the sun is new. We just recycle in new packaging. It’s the way of things (hat tip to Solomon and Ecclesiastes).
When my kids were young we celebrated Advent in the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas. Part of the story I told every year was that Martin Luther wanted to teach his kids the true meaning of Christmas. And he used candles and wreaths as object lessons to make the point stick.
Fast forward 500 years, and we have the exact same need. We need to be reminded of the “reason for the season”. Our culture has appropriated the celebration as a hedonistic, humanistic celebration of generosity. As if by conspicuously demonstrating generosity, they can stake claim to the fact that their nature is characterized by generosity (news flash: it’s not).
The colors of the advent wreath tell a different story. Green wreaths point to everlasting life that comes to those who believe. A sharp contrast to the darkness of separation into which every single human being who has ever been born (save One) participates. Purple candles reminding us that while we see Him as a helpless babe in a manger, Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is no authority above Him or that can compare to Him.
In today’s world we need this reminder. We need it more than the 4th week before Christmas. We need it every day. Without a regular reminder, we will forget and start to behave as if the things the world proclaims are true.
But here’s the kicker… Four weeks of advent are designed to tell the story of Christmas, but also to encourage us to prepare for the reality that we celebrate on December 25. We need to get ready. We need to prepare our hearts.
And the world has tried to take that from us as well. It was around Halloween that I saw the first Christmas displays go up in CostCo. It’s as if the world wants to copy-cat our liturgy of preparation with a season for preparation in it’s own celebration of the season.
And with the commercial run up lasting months and months, it has beat us to the punch. You’ve already started hearing the message of Santa and stockings and reindeer and the virtue of generosity. It’s beating us to the punch as we begin to focus on the nativity.
Against that backdrop of noise, let me remind you that the first week of we celebrate the prophecy. Isaiah 9:6-7. God had a plan. It wasn’t a reaction to anything. He called the shot hundreds of years before Jesus appeared on the scene.
The first week of Advent celebrates the sovereignty and goodness of God. He has a plan and will see it through, for His own glory. And we are the beneficiaries of that plan.
It was nothing that we did, or even could do. No statement we could make or action we could take. Only God, moving with His perfect plan could open the way for you and me.
So this week I encourage you to spend some time to think about Advent and the reminder it brings to you. You will not be able to avoid the messages our culture is sending about the season. Your only hope will be to counteract it with the truth.
Here’s wishing you and yours a mindful Advent season.
Dennis
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