Christians all over the World are observing today as Advent which marks the beginning of a new church calendar.

 

 

 

Advent which is the commencement of a new year of the church begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas day which is the Sunday nearest to November 30th and ends on Christmas Eve which is December 24th.

 

 

 

However, if Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent with Christmas Eve properly beginning a Sun down.

 

 

 

Advent comes from a Latin word Adventus which means coming or arrival. The focus of the entire seasonal celebration is the birth of Jesus Christ in the first Advent and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in His second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a two thousand year old event in history. Advent is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all creations might be reconciled to God.

 

 

 

The scriptural reading in the season will reflect the emphasis on the second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgement of sin and the hope of eternal Life.

 

 

 

In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and congregations as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the World today and that He will come again in power and glory.

 

 

 

These acknowledgements provide bases for Kingdom principles for holy living arising from a profound sense that Christians live between the times and called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to them as children of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So as the church celebrates God in breaking into history in the incarnation and anticipates a future consumption to that history for which all creation is groaningly awaiting its redemption, it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to love God with all heart in addition to loving our neighbors as self.

 

 

 

There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the universe, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt as they cried out from their bitter oppression.

 

 

 

It is actually the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in the World under the curse of sin and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance.

 

 

 

Part of the expectation also anticipates a judgement on sin and a calling of the world to accountability before God. So rather than a time of mourning and fasting as some church traditions teach, Advent should be celebrated as a time of joy as the faithful await the coming of the King.

 

 

 

Because of the dual themes of threat and promise, Advent is a time of preparation that is marked by prayer while Lent is characterized by fasting and spirit of penitence. Advents prayers are prayers of humble devotion and commitment, prayers of submission, prayers for deliverance, prayers for those walking in darkness who are awaiting and anticipating a great light.

 

 

 

The spirit of Advent is well expressed in the parable of the bridesmaids who were anxiously awaiting the coming of the bridegroom as recorded in the gospel of Saint Mathew chapter 23 verse 1 to 13. There was profound joy as they expected the arrival of the bridegroom and yet a warning of the need for preparation echoes through the parable.

 

 

 

As Nigerians prepare for the 2023 general elections, the faithful should use the period of Advent to pray fervently so that God will hear the cry of the oppressed and give them a leader that will save them like the Israelites when they were being oppressed. It is also a season to seek the face of God in prayer through total repentance for an end to series of injustices across the country and ensure even distribution of the Nation’s wealth among the six geopolitical zones of the country in the interest of equity and fairness.

 

 

 

Most importantly, Nigerians need to pray for a successful population and housing census next year because a reliable and accurate census figure is key to sustainable development.

 

 

 

Above all, the prayer of Advent still remains “Come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.”

 

 

 

 

 

Written by ABUCHI NWOZOR/

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