[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2025]
Advent is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus’s birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, often referred to as Advent Sunday. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity.[1]
In our post-reformation non-conformist theological persuasion we tend to not pay much attention to the liturgical calendar as followed by some older denominations. The discipline of a prescribed litany no longer has the same level of importance and the special days ascribed to certain saints tend to pass relatively unnoticed. After all, when all believers are saints then every day should be special.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God
Ephesians 2 v19 [NKJV]
However, Advent is one of those ecclesiastical events that we do recognise. As our opening quotation suggests, it marks the legitimate start of the Christmas season and it has been suggested that the first Sunday of Advent (this year: 30th November) is the appropriate day for Christians to start putting up their Christmas decorations.[2]
As we are well aware, few commercial interests limit themselves to such a late start to their festive activity. Our physical and virtual spaces are saturated with seasonal songs, Santas on sleighs and shops selling sensory indulgences of a non-religious variety; all of which obscures the central reason for a happy Christmas.
Amidst the distractions of our preparations we tend to forget that Advent is not just the starter for Christmas. It has a second and equally important significance. Jesus is coming back:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14 v3 [ESVUK]
The early Christians lived in anticipation of his imminent return but it has now been 2000 years and some observers might argue that there is no sign of his coming. However, that delay simply means that his return is now 2000 years closer than when he issued his promise.
Jesus described the social circumstances prior to his return. People would be eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, buying and selling, planting and building.[3] In short, an ordinary day. He added some important advice:
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24 v44 [ESVUK]
Are you ready?
References:
[1] wikipedia: Advent
[2] Sermon, All Saints’ Cathedral, Nairobi; 30/Nov/2025
[3] Luke 17:27-28
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Last week’s reflection: Stone, Wood and Nails
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys
Thanks again for this, Steve. As you say, it will be an ordinary day, a day like any other, but there will be nothing ordinary about it after that. May God help us all to live our lives in ‘readiness’.