<> Ask the Pastor The Rev. Father Walter Snyder Yes, "Happy New Year!" Today is the First Sunday in Advent, and that means that the Christian Church is starting on a new calendar. What is Advent? "Advent" means appearance, approach, or coming. In churches that follow a special calendar called the "Liturgical Year" or "Church Year," the new year begins on the First Sunday in Advent. Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas Day, on or after the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, on the 30th of November. A time of preparation for the coming Christ, it's also a time of reflection and repentance as we realize that it was our sinfulness that caused God to send our Savior into the world, to take our sins on Himself, and die on the cross. The Church speaks of a "threefold advent" of Christ: 1) His lowly coming in the flesh, or incarnation, that Christmas celebrates [Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:4]; 2) His spiritual coming into the hearts of the believers and His constant presence in the Church [John 14:18, 23]; and 3) His return to judge the earth on the Last Day [Matt. 24:30]. Advent is an excellent time to start or to enhance family devotions. Many fine booklets are offered; using them turns us away from commercial excesses and crass abuses of the time preceding Christmas. Many churches use a four-candled wreath, lighting a new candle each week. Normally, the candles are three purple and one rose or else four blue. Purple signifies repentance (on our part) and royalty (of the coming Christ). Rose shows the dawn of heaven's light. In an old tradition, it is used on the third Sunday as John the Baptist announces the coming of "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Blue commemorates God's faithfulness to an unfaithful people. On Christmas Eve, a white Christ Candle is also lit. On Christmas Day, it's customary to replace the four colored candles with white, which is "God's color" of holiness. Using the wreath or colored candles in other arrangements during family devotions is one way of focusing attention on God and His Word, adding the benefit of attracting our children to this special time. By now, you've seen countless Christmas advertisements, commercials, and store displays. People have offered to sell you anything under the sun, offering who-knows-what as "the perfect Christmas gift." Is it any wonder that you feel burnt out and let down by the time Christmas arrives? Observing the season of Advent is a Godly task, and a tonic against crass commercialism. For all of us who complain that time passes too quickly, Advent resets our focus. Why worry about how many shopping days are left before our credit cards are maxed out? Instead, we can learn anew that Christ is going to return in the flesh to raise the dead and to take all who believe in him to heaven. In other words, Advent reminds us that Christians already have our Christmas present: We are going to live with our Savior forever. We are already dead to sin through our baptisms, and alive in Christ eternally. That doesn't mean that we don't fully and joyfully celebrate Christmas. Indeed, I cherish each of the "twelve days," which I may mention more in a later column. However, our celebration is always tempered by the times in which we live--times which may bring sadness even to the most devout believer. Most of all, however, the celebration is marred by our sinfulness. But Advent's time of preparation (for Christmas and for the Second Coming) is also a time of cleansing and renewal. It forces us to consider our entire relationship with God, with his people, and with the world at large. Thus, when we come to the Feast of the Nativity, we can truly have what the diet commercials only hollowly promise--guilt-free holiday dining. Our sins are taken away; our soiled garments are replaced with the robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb. We can sit down at the Lord's banquet table (both Holy Communion and the heavenly feast of which it is the first course) and dine to our hearts' content. Remember to "Ask the Pastor" at P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or catch me around town. Pastor Snyder serves St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches, Jasper and Woodville, Texas, and is the coauthor of "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1997 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.