For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through Him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
Advent is an opportunity to renew our deep sense of wonder in the world.
You may know Advent means "coming." We await the coming of the baby Jesus on Christmas Day. But since the first Christmas Day came more than 2000 years ago, in one sense, we are waiting for something that has already happened. That seems odd. Why would we do that? Why are we waiting on the past? It is a good question. The truth is, we are looking to the past to give us an indication about the future.
The world moves fast. Children grow quickly. Years pass quickly. And we get in ruts quickly. When we are in a rut, we lose our sense of wonder and possibility. We begin to think all the days ahead will look like today. We get stuck. Along comes Advent calling us to wait on the coming of baby Jesus—which is as sure a thing as you can ever wait for. And like clockwork, He arrives on Christmas. And through His coming, we are offered not an everlasting rut, but everlasting life. New life—a life so filled with life that it goes on forever. Eternal life. A life marked by Peace, Hope, Joy, and Love. A life both fulfilling and fulfilled.
The world moves quickly. Advent invites us to walk slowly. To sit with shepherds in the fields abiding. To sojourn with magi under a starlit sky. To hear cattle lowing around the manger. To ponder these things in our hearts and to know everything is different now because God is with us and among us. To renew our capacity to wonder at what might be possible in the days ahead as this God, this Jesus, shapes and blesses our lives.
Advent reminds us that "no matter how many are the promises God has made, they are 'yes' in Christ." God has fulfilled His promises by sending Jesus. Advent calls us to lives that are fulfilling.
It is a wonder. And it is wonderful.
