Do you know what tomorrow is? Yes, Nov. 29. Within Christianity, however, it is a rather significant day. It is the first day of the new year. So, Happy New Year!
It is also the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a season of preparation – preparing one’s heart, mind, and soul for the coming of our Lord.
Between now and Dec. 25 Christians engage in looking forward by remembering the past. In this season we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus as foretold by the prophets.
Along with John the Baptist we look forward to the life and ministry Jesus will bring. And with great expectation we watch for our Lord’s second coming at a time and place of God’s choosing.
Too frequently, however, the spiritual expectations of this season get grossly overshadowed by the social expectation of this season. Too many parties. Too many places to go. Too much shopping. Too much … you name it.
But this year because of the pandemic, typical and traditional activities may be curtailed somewhat. With people practicing social distancing and limiting engaging with groups of people, the usual gatherings and wild shopping sprees may be drastically reduced.
But this may not be a bad thing. It's disappointing yes, but it may also provide a great opportunity. It may be the perfect time to recover what has been lost.
Over the years much of the message of Christmas has gotten lost. During the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the focus of this season has turned into a frenzy of parties, dinners, shopping, baking, pageants, parades and so much more. It became a season many people dreaded instead of enjoyed.
But now, this year, we have been afforded the opportunity of more time to think and reflect on the preparation of our heart, mind, and soul for the coming of our Lord. We have been given the opening to re-engage the message of the promised Messiah, celebrate the fulfillment of that prophecy, and to meditate on our Lord’s promised return.
When the world celebrates the New Year on Jan. 1, many people make new year’s resolutions. Why not make a Christian new year resolution to give thanks for the opportunity to reflect more on the message of the kind of preparation scripture says is most important – the preparation of your heart, mind, and soul?
This is the perfect opportunity to take stock of your readiness and preparedness for when our Lord returns as he has promised.
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FROM THE PULPIT: Advent, season of preparation, begins