Why We Celebrate Advent :: Advent’s Hope

  • November 28, 2016
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  • Park Forum

As a commercial event, Christmas seems to come too soon each year. In the church calendar—observed by Christians around the world for centuries—Christmas morning marks the beginning of the season, and our hearts now rest in the season of Advent. To put that in the language of modern music, celebrating “Joy to the World” before we cry “O Come O Come Emmanuel” misses the hope of Advent.

“The ancient theologians of the Church, such as Origen and Clement of Alexandria, look upon the Christian life as one continual festival,” observed Ida von Hahn-Hahn in the 19th century. “Because the night of sin has been overcome by redemption, because reconciliation with God has brought peace and true joy to the soul, and because from this joy no one is excluded who does not voluntarily separate himself from God.”

Hahn-Hahn, a German countess who wrote a series of books on church history, highlighted the importance of Advent throughout history in preparing the souls of the faithful for Christmas:

Particular times were set apart as festivals, which, like faithful messengers of religion, returned every year, unceasingly announcing the work of redemption, and by their attractive festivity enkindling man, and preparing his soul for the everlasting feast of heaven.

The fast of the four weeks of Advent, to prepare the sinful world for the merciful coming of the Lord… is not to be fulfilled by a trifling and superficial joy, but by the supernatural rejoicing of a heart entirely resting in God, and a life wholly consecrated to Him. Zeal for sanctification should extend over all the aims and objects of life.

Our goal in this season isn’t to usurp materialism only to restore an idyllic image of Christmas-past. Advent is a season where we seek the renewal of our souls in Christ as we prepare for Christmas-present, and long for Christmas-future—the great second Advent where the broken are restored, the dead are revived, and the hope of the gospel brings forth the restoration of all things. So in this season we joyfully, and longingly, sing together, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.”

Listen: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, by Christy Nockles (2:59)

Today’s Reading
Micah 3 (Listen – 1:51)
Luke 12 (Listen – 7:42)

Vibrant Faith :: Weekend Reading List

  • November 25, 2016
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  • Park Forum

Our mission at The Park Forum is to cultivate vibrant faith and sharpen cultural insight through curated devotionals and scripture readings. Each day over 4,000 of us read, pray, and expand our faith through this community.

Over the last year we’ve sought to grow not only our knowledge of Scripture, but our understanding of the culture we live in. We believe that fostering an informed faith is one of the first steps in making the grace and peace of Christ known in our communities.

Today, for the final Weekend Reading List of the year, we want to take a look back at some of our favorites.

 

Restorative Silence

Once a spiritual discipline, silence is now more likely to be viewed as the uncomfortable penalty for those who do not have enough to do. But how can we hear the whispers of the Spirit without the cloister of silence?

 

 

David Brooks on Simplicity and Morality

Life seems to become perpetually more overwhelming, despite the time and money we spend simplifying—most of us feel underwater when it comes to work, family, and personal life.

 

 

 

The Bible’s Future

More versions of Scripture are available, while less people are reading and legally able to spread the word of God than ever before. It is time for Scripture’s seventh major transition.

 

 

Christian Civility

Civility falters when people live in fear—fear that their views may be wrong; fear that their power is limited; fear that there is no sovereign who cares for their interests.

 

 

Confronting Sin

Today’s calls for racial justice, if anything, understate the problem—white America, however well meaning, is astonishingly oblivious to pervasive inequity.

 

 

Today’s Reading
Jonah 4 (Listen – 1:56)
Luke 9 (Listen – 8:05)

This Weekend’s Readings
Micah 1 (Listen – 2:46) Luke 10 (Listen – 5:40)
Micah 2 (Listen – 2:11) Luke 11 (Listen – 7:33)