HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED ABOUT THE NEXT COMING OF CHRIST WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THE SKY?
If so, you are not alone. We know that the first coming of Jesus Christ was his birth. After His crucifixion and resurrection from the dead , He ascended to His Father, promising that He would return for those who have given their heart and life to Him. Have you?
I know many of you are giving a resounding YES to this question. Some may not be so certain and would like to have the peace of God in believing in God's Son, Jesus Christ. You may be of another faith. For the Christian, this time, before the celebration of CHRISTMAS, is the SEASON OF ADVENT. If you are not familiar with this meaning, lets take a look into the theological meaning of ADVENT. There is actually a TWO FOLD meaning .
Twofold character of advent....HISORY OF ADVENT
The original theological meaning of Advent was subject to a number of interpretations. Some authors consider that, under the influence of the predication of Peter Chrysologus (5th century), the Liturgy of Advent meant a preparation for the annual liturgical celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ and only later did it also extend to the joyous expectation of the Parousia.
On the contrary, other theologians hold the opposite: that Advent originally meant a time of preparation for the Parousia, i.e., the day of the Savior’s second coming. Nevertheless, the intimate superposition of the two schools has made it impossible to not attribute the scriptural and euchological texts read during Advent to just either one of the two.
The present Roman Calendar conserves the double theological dimension that has defined Advent as a time of joyous expectation throughout the centuries: “Advent has a twofold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming to us is remembered; as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation.”
(Roman Calendar, Universal norms of the Liturgical Year and Calendar, 39) (written by Rubin Ortega)
NOW , LETS' LOOK AT THE LIFE , DEATH and RESURRECTION OF CHRIST...AS WE AWAIT HIS SECOND COMING.
The Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in a barn. Because of the massive number of people who flooded the area to be taxed, there was no room for her and Joseph, who was to be her husband. The Angel of God had told Mary not to be afraid because she had been chosen as the Savior's mother.
This night of nights was the FIRST ADVENT, the coming of Christ into the world.