Ah, Advent. A season of joyful expectation, waiting to remember once again the birth of Jesus, our Messiah. This year, Advent begins the weekend after Thanksgiving, and on the surface, it gives us some added quiet time to move into the season. Unfortunately, if you turned on the news this weekend, you might have been confronted with the shopping craziness that marks the secular side of these days leading up to Christmas. Where was the joyful expectation? The emphasis wasn’t on Jesus, but rather on expecting the best bargain, the latest gadget we just have to have, and spending money we don’t have.
We need to recapture the desire to prepare the way of the Lord. To prayerfully prepare our hearts and minds to receive Him, a great place to turn is the Scriptures. You can find the story of Jesus’ birth in the Gospels (Matthew 1:18-2:12; Luke 2:1-20). I know you’ve heard/read the stories many times over the years, but make the effort again this Advent. Find a quiet place, relax and read. Contemplate the scene. Imagine yourself watching it all take place in real time, right before your eyes.
Reconnect with the miracle of Jesus’ birth. As we move through this holy season of Advent, remember: It’s all about Jesus.