Advent is a time of hope, preparation and anticipation. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and remind ourselves that He is coming again at the end of time to judge the living and the dead, this period of anticipation focuses our thoughts on four key Christian themes: hope, peace, joy and love. Each Sunday in Advent gives us the opportunity to focus on what really matters in life rather than on the fripperies which make up our usual timetables in December!
Hope is the fuel that keeps us going. We look back and see God’s first arrival on earth in the form of a helpless, vulnerable baby. We see the light shining in the darkness and remember all that Jesus achieved through His life, death and resurrection. We therefore have the strength to endure and to look ahead in the secure knowledge that He will come again, just as He promised. Though we do not yet have what we hope for, we learn to wait patiently, just as the child waits to open the Advent calendar. (Rom 8:25)
