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Happy New [Church] Year!
Happy New Year! I know what you’re thinking. I’m a little bit early on this, but this Sunday actually starts a new church year. We begin the season of Advent.
Advent comes from a Latin word that means coming. And throughout this next season of Advent, over the next four weeks, we’ll look at various aspects of this coming.
Now, the most straightforward and the most plain one is Christ’s coming at Christmas, right? It’s leading up to the celebration of Christmas, to God becoming man, to coming to this earth. But that’s not the only aspect of this here. It’s not just preparing to get ready to observe this historical event. There’s a few other dimensions that we can talk about with this coming.
During the season of Advent, we also focus on the ways in which Christ comes to us today through the Means of Grace. And so there’s this special emphasis on God’s Word and making regular use of it. On baptism, especially on the Lord’s Supper, as we consider how Christ is present with us physically today.
But also over the next several Sundays, you’ll see another aspect of this coming presented. And this is looking forward towards the end of the world, towards Christ’s coming in judgment and in glory on the last day.
So advent is all about these different comings, about Christ coming and Christmas in the flesh to save us from our sins and start the plan of salvation. How Christ comes to us today in the Means of Grace, to forgive our sins and bestow his precious body and blood upon us. And how Christ will come again in the future to save us from this fallen world, and bring us to be with him forever. Amen.
