O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Welcome to Advent! Advent is an ancient Christian season that marks the four weeks that precede Christmas. The word Advent comes from a Latin word that means “coming” and historically the four weeks of Advent have been a time of remembering Christ’s first coming and anticipating His second coming.
During Advent, we reflect on the anticipation of the Israelites for the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. After centuries of waiting, Christ came into the world to make salvation available to all. Just as they anxiously awaited the arrival of the Messiah, we anxiously await the return of Jesus to set up His Kingdom on earth and make all things new.
There are a few practices that historically were part of Christian’s Advent observance. Along with Lent, Advent is a season of fasting and repentance. We pause from our regular rhythms of life to remember our need for a Savior. Secondly, Advent is a time to pray for Christ’s return.
One of the most ancient prayers of the Christian faith is found in the last chapter of 1 Corinthians. In Aramaic, it is one word — Maranatha. It translates to, “Come, Lord.” This word was found in the earliest Communion prayers. Toward the end of the Eucharist prayer, they would pray, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come.” Today, more than ever, this is an important prayer to be on our lips.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel… May the light of Christ shine in dark places. May we be filled with Your hope and share Your light with a lost and dying world. Amen.
Pastor Nathan
