Be Prepared
By Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier
As the days become shorter and the nights grow longer, we prepare for the coming of our King. Advent is a season of preparation much like the season of Lent. As Lent focuses the believer on the death and Holy Resurrection of Christ our Lord, Advent focuses the believer on the Holy Incarnation and the Second Coming of our Lord. The King of kings was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger and latter entered into Jerusalem where He was nailed to a cross. The King of kings came forth from the womb of the Virgin Mary and latter came forth from the tomb on Easter morning. Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again.
The term advent really means an arrival or coming of some thing or event. In the Church, Advent means the “coming of Christ.” Thus, the First Advent, or First Coming, was in the Holy Incarnation. In the days of the Old Testament, the prophets proclaimed that the Christ, the Messiah, would come and visit His people Israel. As the people of old waited for the First Advent, we wait now for the Second Advent, or Second Coming. We wait for the King to return to judge the living and the dead. We do not know when Christ will come again. Thus in Advent we are attentive to watching, guarding, waking, and walking in the light. As the Boy Scout motto is to be prepared in the physical realm, the motto for the Church is to always be prepared in the spiritual realm. Lift up your heads and rejoice for the King is coming.
