Church of the
Annunciation

Around Thanksgiving, I ask children in our school, religious education programs and schooled at home: “What season is coming soon?” Many say: “Christmas!” Naturally, children hop, skip and jump to Christmas and forget Advent. For some adults Advent is a time to buy gifts, party, decorate and bake cookies. Advent is not prep time for a Christmas birthday party. Advent means “to come.” During Advent we "come to"a deeper appreciation of "God's coming" -- the coming of God in covenant with the Jewish people; the coming of God in the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem; the coming of God at the end of all things; and the coming of God here and now. St. Paul tells the Romans to wake up from sleep. They are living a life at odds with their baptism. Paul encourages them to forsake the misdeed of darkness (e.g. drunkenness, lust, jealousy and rivalry) and “put on Christ.” The coming of Jesus Christ must change the way we live. Jesus himself in the Gospel exhorts his disciples to be alert, stay awake for the Son of Man will come at an hour they do not expect. Don’t be like the people at the time of Noah who eat, drink and are merry unaware that everything precious to them soon will be washed away in the great flood. A year ago a super storm named “Sandy” destroyed life, limb, homes and businesses along the eastern seaboard. Soon after at an elementary school named “Sandy Hook,” innocent children lost their lives in a senseless act of violence. We believe that when lives are in ruins God comes, Jesus is there. When we are in profound grief, Jesus is there. When we are overwhelmed with unpaid bills, Jesus is there. In the depth of loneliness and depression, Jesus is there. Our task in Advent is to live in such a way that we don’t have to wait for Christmas to come. God is with us now in Jesus Christ.