Rejoicing in the Advent

As we come to the end of this year, I would like to spend the last few weeks making some comments on the relationship between the Advent and our faith. The Season of Advent is a glorious time for those who follow the church calendar. Advent[1] offers for Orthodox Christians a time of anticipation and hope. Our anticipation is not in a mythical event, but rather in the glorious coming of our Lord[2] in history. He dressed himself in human flesh and served us until death.

Advent, then, centers on Christ’s coming and anticipates His coming again. This is why the primary color in our sanctuaries is purple. Though purple has been used for fasting and penitence, it makes better sense to understand it as the color of royalty as we welcome the “Coming” or “Arrival” of our great King.

In this time of the year, we join the apostolic voice. We are united to that one body that sings and rejoices in the Savior/Messiah. There are times of the year where we ought to fast and repent of our failures and our unworthiness to follow our King, but Advent is not that time. Instead, nothing in this season leads us to weep, but everything leads us to rejoice. If the King had not come, we would weep;  but thanks be to God we rejoice, for Emmanuel has come to thee, O Israel.

[1] Advent simply means “arrival” or “coming.”

[2] Galatians 4:4-5 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.