Keep it Simple

Advent – a time of waiting: ours or God?

The word Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus which does mean coming. It was understood that in the 4th and 5th C that Advent was a time for preparation for the baptism of new Christians at Epiphany in January. For this was when the Magi visited Jesus according to the Gospel of Matthew. (Matthew 2:1), Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River (John 1:29) and the wedding at Cana, Jesus’ first miracle (Jn 2:1). It was a moment of wonder.

Christians would spend 40 days in prayer and fast to prepare for the celebration. Hence little or no connection with Christmas.

Where’s Christmas?

But, by the 6th C, Roman Christians had linked Advent to the Second Coming of Jesus. This wasn’t Jesus’ birth but then heralded in the clouds. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that Advent was explicitly linked to Christ’s birth.

After the Emperor Constantine’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 CE, Christianity soon became an accepted religion in the panoply of religions permitted within the Roman Empire. The first recorded celebration of ‘Christmas’, the Mass of Christ not the generally accepted understanding of Christmas, was on 25th Dec 336 CE. I’m sure it was a moment of wonder.

A limited Christmas?

Today after many months struggling to come to terms with the Covid-19 virus, after Eid celebrations were cancelled, Divali festivals severely limited, we may be permitted, in the UK, to have a limited Christmas celebration.

If we ponder on the first Christmas, in a stable, or cave, without Turkeys, presents (the Magi may have come up to 2 years later) this first celebration was pretty low-key. Nevertheless, it was a moment of wonder, of beauty. Last year’s celebrations may have been a little more up-market, but still had moments of wonder. And it can be for us as well this year.