Advent of the Savior: Season of Wonder

Advent plays an important role in the yearly rhythm of life for a disciple of Jesus. It is easy for us to be distracted with responsibilities, obligations, interruptions, tragedies, and every thing else life has for us. Advent is an intentional season of reflection on the first coming of Jesus to help motivate us to continue to prepare for his second coming. Christmas Eve is the time when the fifth candle in the Advent wreath is lit. The Christ Candle brings together the hope, peace, joy, and love of the other four candles. This represents all the hope, peace, joy, and love that are wrapped up in Jesus. The events surrounding the birth of Jesus produce a sense of wonder in the people who experienced them. The Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah and Mary, the miraculous pregnancies of Elizabeth and Mary, and the angelic vision Joseph had telling him it was okay to marry Mary. The angelic visitation, followed by the angel army, to the shepherds would have filled them with wonder. We are so familiar with Christmas story that it not longer is awe inspiring to us. Our Christmas holiday gets focused on the traditions of the holiday, and reality behind the season is forgotten. How can we regain a sense of wonder in Christmas? Text: Luke 2:1-20 Bottom Line: Christmas becomes a season of wonder when we remember the reality behind the holiday.