Prepare for Christmas this year by traveling with Advent characters

This year, we celebrate a "regular Advent," with no new era, but only the reminder of one more year in the journey of faith. What we celebrate this year, we need to remember every year: Each year is unique; each season, a chance to renew our walk with the Lord. 1999 is not the end of an era; it is one more year in the long historic journey of the Church of Jesus Christ.

The "ordinary Advents" are more than the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent reminds us that each day, every day, we await the coming of the Lord. Each day, we yearn for Christ to be born anew within our lives and in the lives of those who have yet to experience the joy of knowing Christ.

Jesus' historical birth is celebrated on December 25. We celebrate that event with almost all the world who sees Jesus as a great teacher and moral guide. But we Christians also celebrate this event to remember that Jesus is born in our lives, and in the lives of every member of the Body of Christ.

These next few weeks of Advent will remind us of many characters in the Advent Scriptures. All these people had the chance to hope for Christ to be born in their lives. As you think about these stories, ask yourself how Jesus has entered your life and how He might be asking to enter into new areas of your life this Advent. It's an ordinary Advent, but we are ordinary people who need Him every year.

The first "character" in this year's Advent story is Noah, whom Jesus refers to in the Gospel of the first week. Noah was the only one prepared for the flood. Because he listened to God, God led him to the safety of the Ark. He chose to follow the way of the Lord and was saved. God is calling all of us to the promise of safety in the ark of the Church. In that boat, we are surrounded by God's care, and the flood of sin and evil cannot overwhelm us.

The second week of Advent recalls the story of John the Baptizer. John lived for the coming of the Kingdom. He focused so completely on the Kingdom that he was able to turn away from the luxuries of the world. He calls us to reform our lives and live a life of faith. If Jesus is to enter our lives, we need to unclutter ourselves and make a straight path for God to enter. What is blocking the way of Christ for you? How can your life both be prepared for Jesus and prepare a way for others to hear the Lord when He comes?

Jesus Himself enters the story on the third week of Advent. Jesus recalls the "preparation" of John, but also rightly focuses us on the ministry of Jesus. We will find the truth of Jesus not only in the words that He proclaims, but in the work that He performs. It is in His healing the blind, the crippled, the lepers and the deaf, in His raising the dead, and in His comfort to the poor that we can see the truth of Jesus Christ. Do people see Christ alive in us in our outreach to those in need? Or is it just words that we proclaim? Do we bring the Reign of God to those in need?

The last characters we meet in the fourth week are the parents of Jesus. Mary and Joseph show us how we, too, can bring Christ alive in our lives and in our world. This year, we hear about Joseph (Mary's story is proclaimed on her feast on December 8). Joseph was a dreamer, like his namesake, Joseph of the Old Testament.

Joseph listened to God through the message of the angel. He accepted what he did not understand about Mary's pregnancy. He trusted in the dream, and he took her into his home as his wife. His act of faith allowed God's plan, that Jesus would be born to Mary, to take root. Who knows what miracles God has in store for us who dream? Are we listening to our dreams?

Every day, God proclaims His coming in our midst through the Scriptures and through dreams, through angels and through the events surrounding our lives. Jesus has already been born: at Bethlehem, in the Church and in our lives. Advent reminds us that we need to be open to His growing presence in our world.

The kingdom has begun, but it is not yet complete. Only if we live in the expectation of His new life within us, each Advent and each day, can the Reign of God continue to break forth.

Are we dreaming? Are we listening? Do we hear His call?

(11-26-98) [[In-content Ad]]