Larry Devich
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Advent
Tomorrow begins the season of Advent. Advent is more than just a "countdown to Christmas" but is a season of the Church Year in its own right. This year I'll be posting devotions from Pastor Tim Pauls of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boise, Idaho. He has posted them on the Web at www.scholia.net
Here is his introduction, tomorrow I'll start posting the daily devotions.
If there's a season of the church year that doesn't get any respect, it's got to
be Advent. By the time it begins, the shopping stampede has already begun in
the stores and lights are going up on roof lines around the neighborhood.
Christmas is right around the corner, and all of December is consumed with its
preparation. (When was the last time you were invited to an Advent party?)
Certainly, Advent leads us into Christmas, where we celebrate our Lord's
advent His coming in the flesh, born of Mary. But there's more: Jesus has
promised that He will come again on the Last Day in an advent so glorious that
every knee shall bow before Him. Until then, Jesus comes to us in His means of
grace, an advent veiled in Word and Sacrament.
All three of these advents are related, and we cannot do without any of them.
If Jesus has not come in the flesh and gone to the cross, there is only dread, not
joy, for us in His glorious return on Judgment Day. Likewise, if He does not
come in His means of grace to give us forgiveness, we have no hope because we
remain unforgiven. And if Jesus is not going to return to deliver us to heaven,
we remain in the grave.
All three of these advents are part of the season that gets no respect. I look
forward to Christmas along with everybody else. But until then, let us not rush
past the Good News that Advent holds.
For while we rejoice in the Incarnation, it is always a blessed story when
Jesus comes.
A blessed Advent to you.
Pastor Tim Pauls
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Boise, Idaho ¶ 12/02/2006 08:35:00 AM 0 Comments
Here is his introduction, tomorrow I'll start posting the daily devotions.
If there's a season of the church year that doesn't get any respect, it's got to
be Advent. By the time it begins, the shopping stampede has already begun in
the stores and lights are going up on roof lines around the neighborhood.
Christmas is right around the corner, and all of December is consumed with its
preparation. (When was the last time you were invited to an Advent party?)
Certainly, Advent leads us into Christmas, where we celebrate our Lord's
advent His coming in the flesh, born of Mary. But there's more: Jesus has
promised that He will come again on the Last Day in an advent so glorious that
every knee shall bow before Him. Until then, Jesus comes to us in His means of
grace, an advent veiled in Word and Sacrament.
All three of these advents are related, and we cannot do without any of them.
If Jesus has not come in the flesh and gone to the cross, there is only dread, not
joy, for us in His glorious return on Judgment Day. Likewise, if He does not
come in His means of grace to give us forgiveness, we have no hope because we
remain unforgiven. And if Jesus is not going to return to deliver us to heaven,
we remain in the grave.
All three of these advents are part of the season that gets no respect. I look
forward to Christmas along with everybody else. But until then, let us not rush
past the Good News that Advent holds.
For while we rejoice in the Incarnation, it is always a blessed story when
Jesus comes.
A blessed Advent to you.
Pastor Tim Pauls
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Boise, Idaho ¶ 12/02/2006 08:35:00 AM 0 Comments
