Article
Advent
Mitch Everingham, 25th November 2024
In each of our lives, the Christmas season is marked with a sense of
anticipation.
Some of us can recall with fondness the Christmas mornings where we’d
wake early, anticipating the presents that we’d find under the tree.
Perhaps you’re eagerly awaiting the twenty-fifth of the December
because it marks the beginning of a break from work or study for the
year. Maybe you’re looking forward to time with your family, delicious
food and an afternoon nap. And still for others, the anticipation you feel
is because of the difficulty of the Christmas season, where you
remember the absence of a loved one, the punctuation of the loneliness
you feel, or grieving a dysfunctional family unit.
The beauty of Advent is that in both our joy and sorrow there is
something—someone—who we’re called to anticipate with an even
greater fervour. Jesus, the long-anticipated messiah, came to bring
good news of great joy—that true and lasting satisfaction is found in
him—and to wipe every tear from our eyes.
Whether Christmas is the happiest time of the year or difficult period,
learning to anticipate the coming of Jesus awakens the deepest longing
of our souls. And the season of Advent is a gift that allows us to
anticipate Jesus’ arrival!
Download the Advent Guide filled with helpful resources on how you/ your family can walk through advent with a sense of hopeful expectation.