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Last week, I mentioned that thirty years ago, most Wesleyans would not have known what Advent is or even why we celebrate it. Most Wesleyan Churches now at least recognize the season and use the Advent candles as part of it. Earlier this week I had a little rant about the lack of Advent hymns and that most churches will use Christmas carols in light of Advent hymns. I also wrote a background of how a Wesleyan pastor has an interest in the liturgical church calendar and the lectionary.
Why is Advent so important to me? To be real transparent, I have had difficulty getting into this season or maybe more getting into the traditional trappings of Christmas. Why? I am in the midst of my eighth Christmas season in retail — being in retail has a way of making you cynical toward the season — this is the retailer’s last chance to beat last year’s numbers. The bottom line in retail is: did we make more money than last year? Are we going to make a profit? Are we going to make money? The company I work for keeps reminding us to make sure the customer has everything they need — to be quite honest, there is nothing that you or I need where I work. We don’t sell food, clothing, or shelter — those are needs. What we sell are wants. This is why Advent is so important.
For me it is a way to escape all the preparation of buying gifts, spending much more than we have, office parties, other Christmas parties — not that there’s anything wrong with that — it’s just Christmas is more than all of that. That’s why I need Advent to help prepare my heart for this season. It helps me build anticipation and expectation for the Christmas event. I think everyone needs to prepare their hearts, minds, and souls for Christmas through Advent. We spend so much time preparing for everything else about Christmas and yet we don’t prepare our own souls. That is a tragedy. That’s why I like the Advent hymns and songs — the ones that help prepare our heart and soul for the coming of Christ — both his first Advent and his second.
Is your heart ready for the coming of Jesus? Is your soul ready? Take time this Sunday to do that through the worship at your church — Prepare yourself for the coming Christ!
