The word advent itself means “arrival” or “an appearing or coming into place.” Christians often speak of Christ’s “first advent” and “second advent”; that is, His first and second comings to earth. His first advent would be the Incarnation - Christmastime.
The Advent season lasts for four Sundays. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, or the nearest Sunday to November 30. Advent ends on Christmas Eve and thus is not considered part of the Christmas season. The Advent celebration is both a commemoration of Christ’s first coming and an anticipation of His second coming. As Israel longed for their Messiah to come, so Christians long for their Saviour to come again.
So, apart from chewing chocolate on our journey through to Christmas, let's use Advent as a season to prepare us to celebrate Jesus' birth. I highly recommend the following:
As we approach Christmas, celebrate the greatest story of all. Wherever you are, however you can celebrate, the Christ Child's promise of comfort and joy is for you.
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