Advent is a time to go, not wait

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I agree with Everett J. Thomas’ statement that we can do better with Advent (Editorial, Dec. 4) but in a different way. Advent was that time in history when the people of God waited for the Messiah. Advent is the name given to the four Sundays before Christmas Day. Advent is that time of year when we try to pretend that Christmas hasn’t happened. Advent is what has replaced Christmas on Sunday mornings in church. Every year in December we are told Advent is a time of waiting.

I’ve tried to listen carefully, but the only thing I can determine that we are waiting for is to celebrate. But Christmas is way too much to celebrate in just a few days or one or two weeks. We need most of the month to do it justice.

For the Christian, Advent is history. We know about Advent because we have experienced it. We can review history, but we cannot relive it.

Advent is for that part of the world that has not experienced Advent. They are waiting, not for God to do something, but for us, the children of the light. God does not have another son to send. The only place I know where Jesus told his disciples to wait, was to wait for the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, the message of the New Testament is, “Go.” It is appropriate to review from where we have come and the world into which Christ came, but the real business is proclaiming that light.

Four weeks of Advent and one week of Christmas is a ratio that should be reversed. We need to celebrate and use that celebration as a springboard to be missional. The world is waiting for us to show them the Light. Let’s change the focus of Advent from “wait” to “go.”

Associated Issue: Ready for retirement - Dec. 4, 2007

Associated Article: We can do better with Advent

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