Advent Season Begins...

​   This Sunday we enter into the season of Advent.  Advent means:  coming, arrival.  And in the Church it refers to the coming of Christ.  Christ comes to us…..

•  as the Christ Child, that we celebrate at Christmas.  
• Christ also promises to come to us daily and throughout our lives, as He promises to be with us always, and within us and in the Body of Christ, the Church.  
• And the Messiah, the Christ, promises to come in glory to receive His people into His eternal presence.

 
    So as we read in this Sunday’s Gospel reading, “they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”  (Mark 13;26)  As we see in the context and in these words themselves, this refers to Christ’s return on the Last Day.  
 
     Often connected to this coming Christ are the fears of God’s wrath and judgment.  And the Scriptures include words that speak of God’s wrath and that can fill us with fear.  Unless…
 
     Unless, God decides to NOT bring His wrath and judgment upon us.  And that is exactly what the Advent of Christ is telling us:
     He came as a Baby to live among us and as our Savior
     He comes to dwell with us and in us through the waters of baptism and in faith.
     He returns to receive us into His glorious presence forever.
 
    And so the Advent of Christ is filled with God’s grace and love and mercy.  Fear is replaced with faith and hope and joy!
 
    It’s like a parent telling a child that she/he would not have food or shelter or protection without the love and care of a parent.  But the parent is holding the child, fixing supper, and standing in the warm house that has been provided for all the family.  So the child need not fear; rather she/he can be glad that they have those who love and care for them.
 
   Just as you and I have the God who saves us from the powers of sin, death and the devil.  And He is with us always.  So we need not fear; rather trust and rejoice in the God who loves and cares for us always.