ADVENT is the time designated by the Church to prepare for our Savior’s arrival. In ages past, hope fueled the longing for the Messiah, but ours is more of a strong confident desire founded on the consolation of knowing our Redemption already is accomplished.
Resist temptations to reduce ADVENT to a nostalgic musing merely looking back 2000 years and wondering what it was like. Instead, seize the opportunity to prepare well by deepening expectations for the coming of the Lord.
The Lord’s coming always is accomplished by grace – power. Our task is to permit grace to develop and mature in us so that God’s very presence and actual power becomes more plentiful and penetrating in daily living.