Advent-ure

5/12/2022

'The first Advent was the embodiment of God's peace plan.' (CMEP)

Advent is the anticipation of an arrival. Not just any arrival, but a re-living of the first arrival of Jesus Christ in this world. It’s also a looking forward in anticipation to the re-arrival of this Jesus in the future. In this sense, Christmas, for Christians, represents a fundamental pivotal event, a radical Kairos moment in human history. Against that backdrop, a Nigerian visitor commented in astonishment at how, in the UK, the Christmas miracle appears to have been drained of all life, vitality and meaning. We seem to have exchanged this amazing earth-shattering event for superficial, glittery materialism.

Some Iranian friends asked me to explain what Christmas does mean for Christians. What’s its significance for us now? I drew on Francis Spufford’s words in Unapologetic (2012) that, if we look honestly at our own lives and across the world today, we can see evidence of the ‘human propensity to f*** things up’ everywhere. In biblical language, that’s the impact of sin (an unpopular word and concept today!). In essence, Jesus came to save us from it, to reconcile us to God and, that way, to transform humanity. We can see the effects of authentic spiritual transformation in people’s lives:

‘Mine was a happy family. I had one brother and one sister, but I do not like to talk about it. It is not important now. The important thing is to follow God’s way, the way he leads us to do something beautiful for him.’ (Mother Teresa) ‘Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. He's allowed me to go up to the mountain top. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land.’ (Martin Luther King) ‘I have lost everything. Now I just want to know Christ, to become like him’. (Paul in Philippians, the Bible)

For me, Advent is a period of critical reflection on my own faith and stance in the world, to consider how far I’m allowing God to arrive in and transform my life. As we approach the New Year, I think of Advent as preparation to venture out on a new advent-ure in faith, to discover God afresh who arrives there before us. ‘I’m not saying that I have this all together, but I am well on my way, reaching out for Jesus who has so wondrously reached out for me. I’ve got my eye on the goal where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. I’m running and I’m not turning back.’ (Paul in Philippians, the Bible)

What does Advent mean to you? May God give you peace and hope.

[See also: Arrival; Advent; Discovering our true selves]

14 Comments

Pauline Gaunt

5/12/2022 08:39:49 pm

Hi Nick. I like the linking of advent with adventure! Thanks for posting that. It inspired me.

Nick Wright

5/12/2022 08:40:25 pm

Hi Pauline. Thanks for posting the encouraging feedback. :)

Mark Saunders

5/12/2022 08:43:07 pm

Hi Nick. Your Spufford quote made me smile! It's a very down to earth way to describe sin today. It's true in my own life. It sometimes feels like one step forward three steps backward.

5/12/2022 08:46:02 pm

Hi Mark. Yes, I love the reality and humanity in Spufford's 'Unapologetic'. He has a great way of expressing the Christian faith in ways that connect deeply with our human experience.

Phil Colvin

5/12/2022 08:49:29 pm

I like the way you cluster Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King and Paul of the Bible like that. A remarkable similarity in what they are all saying. Do you know Bob Dylan's Pressing On?

5/12/2022 08:51:56 pm

Thank you, Mark. Yes, I was struck by the similarities too. Yes, I love that song! :) 'I believe in You' is one of my Dylan favourites.

Bob Dyer

6/12/2022 08:19:11 am

Hey Nick. Advent is God reaching out to us. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound of angel voices who heralded the arrival of Jesus, Savior, into this world!

6/12/2022 09:34:21 am

I love how you expressed that. Thank you, Bob!

Jasmin V.

6/12/2022 08:20:34 am

What a masterpiece, coach Nick! I salute those you mentioned in your blog for their generous, fiery hearts; who always supported, cared for and prioritised other people’s sufferings before their own.

I pray that in this Advent season, God will enlighten the minds and hearts of our Government to improve services for the poorest people. For example: to hire more nurses, improve hospital facilities, reform bureaucratic admission protocols that can take a person’s life. At the moment, it’s paper before people: a person can be left to die while endless paperwork is being done.

There are plenty of Christians in our country but most of us have forgotten Advent, how Jesus was born into suffering. For our faith to progress in the future, we must learn to be people-centred. I pray that we Filipinos will be more like Jesus, that we will follow his example of service with joy and love.

6/12/2022 09:39:25 am

Hi Jasmin - and thank you for your encouraging feedback! I think the things you have listed are great practical examples of how the inspiration of Christ and the power of the Spirit can transform our values and stance at personal and systemic levels - if we allow him to.

Sally Chambers

6/12/2022 08:23:26 am

Thanks for sharing this Nick. We hear of the 'second coming of Chris', but I'd never thought about Jesus' nativity as the 'first coming of Christ'. Amazing!

6/12/2022 09:35:11 am

Thank you, Sally. To be honest, I had never thought of it that way too, until I started to write the blog.

Kathrin Hoffmann

6/12/2022 08:48:45 am

Hi Nick! When I think about work, the Advent season is a strenuous time. For me personally, I like the many candles and lights during the Advent season. But that I have special thoughts about my life or my life with Jesus or the message of Jesus at this time is not the case. These thoughts determine my life, my thoughts and my actions all year round. Not just in the period before Christmas or at the beginning of a new year.

6/12/2022 09:46:50 am

Hi Kathrin and thank you for your honest, personal response. Yes, I'm aware that for some people and traditions, the 'Advent' period as a distinctive dimension of Christian life and discipleship is more significant than for others. I guess it's one way in with the church-as-institution organises itself to help people focus their attention on different dimensions of Christian faith throughout the year. I see Advent as one opportunity for personal reflection and renewal, rather than as a fixed rule vis a vis when I should do that. I hope that makes sense!

Advent-ure

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