The Present of Advent

Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28

We celebrate in order to bring the joy of the past into the present. We anticipate in order to bring the joy of the future into the present. During Advent we combine these two activities into one glorious festival.

We celebrate the Advent when you came
To take on human flesh, to live as one of us,
To share our ignominy and our shame,
Because the Father’s love was scandalous.
We celebrate the Advent when you came
To demonstrate the righteous way to live,
The way that honors and exalts God’s name,
Enabling him to righteously forgive.
Your coming Advent we anticipate
With eager hearts and hopeful certainty
Of life eternal, filled with love and grace;
We resonate with joy as we await
The advent of our immortality,
When we become a glorious human race.