The season of Advent is one in which we prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior- in fact, the word Advent literally means “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event”. Matthew 1:23 states “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” For a Christian, our advent is dual- not only do we celebrate the birth of the Son, an event, but the arrival of Jesus Christ, a person- more specifically, He who is destined to save us from an eternity in hell.
As just about everyone knows, the holidays can be a time of chaos. Are the presents for Mom and Dad wrapped? Did we buy enough dip for Saturday’s gathering? Will the tree even fit inside the house? It is all too easy to get wrapped up in our own personal advent- the arrival of relatives from miles away, exciting younger children for the coming of Santa Claus, tearing open packages to find the one thing we really wanted. However, it’s vital to remember that as Christians, we’re called to remember the presence of a larger Advent- the arrival of eternal salvation, here to stay without fear. Celebrate the little details, but remember to take a look at the bigger picture this holiday season- we are preparing for the coming of Christ himself, and that is the most important advent of all.