The History of Advent
The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and his first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.
By the 6th century, however, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world. It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.
Advent Today
Today, the Advent season lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. At that time, the new Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration of Christmastide, which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6. (Advent begins on the Sunday that falls between November 27th and December 3rd each year.)
...
While it is difficult to keep in mind in the midst of holiday celebrations, shopping, lights and decorations, and joyful carols, Advent is intended to be a season of fasting, much like Lent, and there are a variety of ways that this time of mourning works itself out in the season. Reflection on the violence and evil in the world cause us to cry out to God to make things right—to put death’s dark shadows to flight. Our exile in the present makes us look forward to our future Exodus. And our own sinfulness and need for grace leads us to pray for the Holy Spirit to renew his work in conforming us into the image of Christ.
Scott P. Richert explained Advent as follows, quoted in part (with links omitted) [2]:
In the Catholic Church, Advent is a period of preparation, extending over four Sundays, before Christmas. (For more details, see "When Does Advent Start?") The word Advent comes from the Latin advenio, "to come to," and refers to the coming of Christ. This refers, first of all, to our celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas; but second, to the coming of Christ in our lives through grace and the Sacrament of Holy Communion; and finally, to His Second Coming at the end of time.
Our preparations, therefore, should have all three comings in mind. We need to prepare our souls to receive Christ worthily.
...
First We Fast, Then We Feast
That's why Advent has traditionally been known as a "little Lent." As in Lent, Advent should be marked by increased prayer, fasting, and good works. While the Western Church no longer has a set requirement for fasting during Advent, the Eastern Church, both Catholic and Orthodox, continues to observe what is known as Philip's Fast, from November 15 until Christmas.
Traditionally, all great feasts have been preceded by a time of fasting, which makes the feast itself more joyful. Sadly, Advent today has supplanted by "the Christmas shopping season," so that by Christmas Day, many people no longer enjoy the feast,
Both scholars agree that fasting is no longer being practiced during the season of Advent. The need for a cleansing of the body and the soul by fasting [3] in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ has been displaced by holiday parties and by the commercialism of Christmas. With all the secular sights and sounds of the holidays, it is easy for one not to be mindful of the fact that without Christ there would no Christmas and no salvation.
The advancement of secularism is relentless, and those faithful to God ought to be keenly aware of the insidious, or rather Satanic encroachment of secularism upon Christianity that ever so gradually ossifies it into lifelessness and irrelevance, the antithesis of the living Christ Who considers every life to be relevant enough to be loved unconditionally and die for in order to be saved.
Nobody knows when the Second Coming will arrive. When It does, one would hope that no soul would already be dead to Christ and on its way to eternal death. Going to parties and shopping for gifts are in this blogger's opinion not steps that would lead to Hell, but just to make sure that they do not, why not bring God along, and listen to Christmas carols [4] on the way (in anticipation of the birth of Christ) as part of the fun?
[1] http://www.christianity.com/christian-life/christmas/what-is-advent.html
[2] http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Advent.htm
[3] This blogger confesses that he has never fasted during Advent, or Lent, but he eats fish every Friday.
[4] Christmas carols like O Holy Night, Panis Angelicus and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing are not the same as secular songs sung during the Christmas season, such as White Christmas, 12 days of Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock and the like.
No comments:
Post a Comment