As a young boy, I eagerly anticipated Thanksgiving evening's desserts and Christmas morning's presents. But as I've grown older I've begun to more deeply appreciate the "reason for the season", as the coined Christian phrase goes. And as I have studied the life of Christ these past couple of years a different anticipation has arisen in my heart around the holidays - an excitement of the season of Advent.
Advent is a term originally derived from Latin meaning "coming" or "arrival". During Advent, the church celebrates and contemplates Jesus' first coming and joyfully anticipates His second. From His lowly birth in a feed trough to His humble life amongst the people of Israel, we reflect on God's humility and faithfulness while recalling the promises of our Bridegroom, King, and Judge's return to rule and dwell in Jerusalem and be adored by the whole earth.
The Advent season officially commences on the fourth Sunday (Advent Sunday) before Christmas and continues until Christmas Eve or Day. Throughout history Christians have celebrated Advent through a variety of traditions. The Advent calendar is probably the most secularized Advent tradition (though probably originally conceived by German Lutherans) and counts down 24 days until Christmas, anticipating the final day which represents the first advent of Christ. Advent candles are also popular in celebrating the season, the symbol being borrowed from passages like Matthew 4:16 and John 1:4-9 where Jesus is described as the Light of the World. Some folks burn one candle a little bit each day, representing the anticipation of Christmas. Others use a wreath with four or five candles, lighting one candle each Sunday during Advent until Christmas Eve or Day when the final "Christ candle" is lit, representing Christ's arrival.
I've been intrigued by each of the traditions that accompany the season of Advent. Though I am certainly no expert in all of them nor do I have a lot of experience in practicing them, I am grateful for the way the Lord has used simple traditions and their symbols throughout history to keep us connected to His appearing.
Advent is about resetting ourselves to "love His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). It is a season of joy and hope but not without sobriety. As ones who want to be ready for His return, we solemnly search our hearts and prepare ourselves for the Bridegroom's coming (Matthew 25:1-13; Luke 12:35-36). And one of the main ways we do this is through prayer and meditation on the Scriptures. Last year I used a very simple Advent reading/meditation schedule from Stephen Venable. I've modified the dates to fit this year's calendar.
|
Day & Date |
First Coming |
2nd Coming/Prophetic Lit |
|
Sun, Dec 2nd |
Matthew 1-2 |
Deut 32, 33 |
|
Mon, Dec 3rd |
John 1 |
Psalm 2, 24 |
|
Tues, Dec 4th |
Luke 1-3 |
Psalm 47, 48 |
|
Weds, Dec 5th |
Luke 4-6 |
Psalm 72, 75 |
|
Thurs, Dec 6th |
Luke 7-9 |
Psalm 110, 118 |
|
Fri, Dec 7th |
Luke 10-12 |
Song 5, 8 |
|
Sat, Dec 8th |
Luke 13-15 |
Isaiah 2, 4 |
|
Sun, Dec 9th |
Luke 16-18 |
Isaiah 9, 11 |
|
Mon, Dec 10th |
Matthew 1-2, John 1 |
Isaiah 24, 25 |
|
Tues, Dec 11th |
Luke 19-21 |
Isaiah 32, 35 |
|
Weds, Dec 12th |
Luke 22-24 |
Isaiah 40, 53 |
|
Thurs, Dec 13th |
John 1-3 |
Isaiah 62, 63 |
|
Fri, Dec 14th |
John 4-5 |
Jer 25, 33 |
|
Sat, Dec 15th |
John 6-7 |
Dan 2, 7, Joel 2, 3 |
|
Sun, Dec 16th |
John 8-9 |
Zeph 3, Hab 3 |
|
Mon, Dec 17th |
Luke 1-2, John 1 |
Zech 13, 14, Mal 3, 4 |
|
Tues, Dec 18th |
John 10-11 |
Matthew 24, 25 |
|
Weds, Dec 19th |
John 12-13 |
1 Cor 15, Heb 12 |
|
Thurs, Dec 20th |
John 14-15 |
2 Tim 3-4; 1 Thess 4, 5 |
|
Fri, Dec 21st |
John 16-17 |
2 Thess 2, 3 |
|
Sat, Dec 22nd |
John 18-19 |
1 Pet 1; 2 Pet 3 |
|
Sun, Dec 23rd |
John 20-22 |
Rev 5-6 |
|
Mon, Dec 24th |
Matthew 1-2, John 1 |
Rev 14-15 |
|
Tues, Dec 25th |
Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2 |
Rev 19-22 |
If you're interested, I've also made a PDF version of the reading schedule you can download here.
The Internet has a wealth of information about Advent. Here are a couple of resources I found that may be helpful to you and your family as you celebrate:
YouVersion Advent Bible reading reading plans
The Village Church Advent guide for 2012
Over the next couple of weeks I'll blog a bit more on how I am celebrating, remembering, and anticipating. May we join in the cry of our brothers and sisters throughout history... O come, O come, Emmanuel!
UPDATE: My computer's calendar officially fooled me. Advent begins NEXT Sunday, December 2nd... I jumped the gun in my excitement! Oops 🙂 I've adjusted the devotional schedule accordingly.
