Next week begins the season of Advent in the Christian Calendar. For some churches it is entirely ignored; for others, it’s a time of feasting, with advent calendars holding sweets for each day, and parties and celebrations. For others, it’s a significant fast , eliminating meat and dairy foods for the four weeks until Christmas.

Apparently Christians can’t quite agree on how to prepare for the celebration that is at the beginning of the Christian year, the birth of Christ. I have wondered why we don’t celebrate childbirth itself in the spirit of anticipation: For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” ( Isaiah 9:6)

Isaiah knew what it was to express joy in anticipation of an event that he would not live on earth to witness. This, I think, is the secret of advent: the sure knowledge that God has sent His son and, with our “hindsight,” the joy of knowing the fruit of the promise—the rescue of His people from darkness to light, the admission of “ordinary” souls into the family of God Himself: Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. You are God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1Peter 2:9-10)

Our lives change when a child is born. I believe that the change is a growth toward our Father God, as we witness the growth of the little one, and remember that God watched His son grow up in the home of Mary and Joseph, and declared His joy at Jesus’ baptism: “ This is may Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) Parenthood is a theme throughout the Old and New Testaments. It is the very familial relationship that God desires with His people, that Jesus delivers to both us and to Him. The anticipation that brought such joy to Isaiah was lived and recognized by the disciples who actually witnessed Christ himself on earth.

Isaiah was separated in time from Jesus’ birth, as we are, as well. Yet, the separation was no impediment to the joy of the Lord. This joy has not only not diminished, but has multiplied and grown from the annunciation to Mary to the resurrection of God’s son. We, too, can receive this joy in Advent. This week is the anticipation of anticipation: Joy itself.

Love in Him,

Prue