The Meaning of Advent
The season of Advent begins on the Sunday nearest November 30 and continues through the four Sundays before Christmas Day. The term Advent is Latin for “coming.”
Like the season of Lent, Advent is a time of reflecting and preparing for the coming of the King. We can think of this coming in three ways:
- The season of Advent represents the coming of the King as a human child. In the form of a baby in a manger, Jesus came to us.
- The season of Advent signifies the coming of the King in our own hearts, to which we witness year-round.
- The season of Advent reminds us of the second coming of the King, the time at the end of the age when Christ will return in all of His glory.
Christians devote special attention to the last week of Lent, which is commonly known as Holy Week. The Great Week, the Week of Forgiveness, and the Week of the Holy Passion were other names used by early writers for the last week of Lent. During this week, Christian worshipers retrace the steps that marked the final week of Jesus’ public ministry and finally carried his body to the place of his execution.
This week begins with Palm-Passion Sunday, which celebrates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on a young colt. Along with the celebrative nature of this service, the upcoming crucifixion is foreshadowed as well. Thus, the title, Palm-Passion Sunday.
Historically, the next day of Holy Week which is observed is Maundy Thursday. The word maundy comes from the Latin word “mandatum,” which means commandment. The scripture reference for this commandment is found in John 13:34. The service of Communion may be preceded by a foot washing ceremony and followed by the stripping of the worship space.
Good Friday marks the day of crucifixion for Jesus Christ. The name “Good Friday” developed among English Christians who judged the consequences of the day—not the crucifixion itself—as good. Eastern Christians speak of this day as Great Friday.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
The celebration of Easter is the event of Christianity. In Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It might surprise some to know that the season of Easter actually lasts for 50 days. The rising sun, the empty tomb, the butterfly, the lily, and the colors white and gold symbolize the Easter season.
Though it is difficult to flesh out in just a few sentences the meaning of Easter and its great significance to us, Robert Webber provides this thumbnail description:
Christ is the one in whom life and the new creation, the beginning again of our lives and all of creation, is assured. Our Easter calling is to let him live in us, to embrace by faith his new life, to let it take hold of us, to participate in him and his resurrection for the life of the whole world. In this way we are born again; we are made a new creation.
You may read the Easter story as found in Luke 24 at this link.
Pentecost Sunday! The exclamation point for the Easter season. The celebration on Pentecost Sunday highlights the gift of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians. In essence, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of the church. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the church was empowered to fulfill the ministry of the Risen Christ.
In case you were wondering, the word Pentecost has a Greek origin, meaning “fifty.” In this context, Pentecost is celebrated fifty days after Easter Sunday. The flame, dove, and the color red symbolize Pentecost.
You can read the account of Pentecost found in Acts 2 at this link.