From the Latin word that means “coming”, Advent is a season of waiting, expecting and hoping.It has significance as a season of looking forward and waiting for something greater; both for the annual celebration of the event of Christ’s birth, and for the time when Christ will come again. This coming Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us to prepare for the coming, or advent of the Christ child at Christmas.
The season of expectancy and hope.
“Jesus keeps our feet on the ground, attentive to children, in conversation with ordinary people, sharing meals with friends and strangers, listening to the wind, observing the wildflowers, touching the sick and wounded, praying simply and unselfconsciously. Jesus insists that we deal with God right here and now, in the place where we find ourselves and with the people we are with. Jesus is God here and now.”
– Eugene Peterson