Prayers for Young People to Use in Daily Devotions November 27, 2011
Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year for the Christian Church. On the first day of Advent, which begins this year on November 27th, the Church celebrates its New Year's Day. The date for the beginning of Advent falls each year on the Sunday closest to November 30th - the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle.
Sometimes people make the mistake of thinking that Advent is part of the Christmas celebration. In fact, Advent is a separate time of preparation all its own. For the Church, Christmas doesn't begin until the first service is celebrated on Christmas Eve and it continues until the "Octave of the Epiphany" on January 14th.
Advent is given to us as a time to prepare our souls for the coming of the Lord. This season is very similar to Lent which helps us to prepare for Easter. In modern times we are tempted to skip over the penitential aspects of Advent and focus on the joy of Christmas. This is a great tragedy. Focusing only on the joy denies the truth: the Christ Child is our Lord and Savior Who will suffer and die for our salvation.
The word “Advent” is Latin for “to come,” and refers to the comings of Christ. We traditionally start by looking at and anticipating the glorious Coming of Christ in Victory, which will bring in the Day of Judgment and the culmination of this heaven and earth. It is the great day when all who are one with the Lord will be brought by him into the Eternal Glory of the Almighty.
Secondly, we rejoice and anticipate the gracious Coming of Christ Jesus into our own life as our Lord and Savior. This happens when we accept the love of God which sent Christ Jesus to die for our sins and to bring us salvation through his Resurrection. We ask Jesus to live in us so we might live in him, and walk with him every day.
Thirdly, we anticipate the celebration of the wonderful Incarnation (which means “coming in the flesh”) – the coming of Christ to earth to be born in Bethlehem as a human just like us. While there is a tendency to focus on the Coming of Jesus in Bethlehem, the first emphasis of the New Year of the Church is on the Coming of Christ in Glory, because it is that fact which gives meaning and purpose to everything else about Christianity. It is that recognition that Jesus Christ is indeed the one who Creates all things, and who is the agent of the forgiveness and Re-Creation of all things, and who is our King of kings and Lord of lords, and whose love as the reality of the Triune God saves us from sin and eternal death, which is the reason for our faith in God and our obedience to God in all things.
The Scripture readings during worship remind us of all the prophecies that point to the Lord's coming again in Glory. We are called to keep watch and to leave behind our sinful ways. We also hear the recurring theme of a light shining through darkness. In Isaiah 60:19 we are reminded of this promise: "The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory."
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This prayer for Advent is by St. Ambrose (339-397), the Bishop of Milan.
O God, who looked on us when we had fallen down into death, and resolved to redeem us by the Advent of your only begotten Son; grant, we beg you, that those who confess his glorious Incarnation may also be admitted to the fellowship of their Redeemer, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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A prayer for the first week of Advent.
Almighty God, give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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In the church we use an Advent Wreath for the Sundays of Advent, and many families use them at home for daily devotions during Advent.
Since circles have no beginning and no end, the circular shape of the Advent Wreath is used to symbolize God the Father and eternal life. The wreath holds four candles which are lit over the four weeks of Advent. The light of the flame is a visual reminder that Christ is "The Light of the World" (John 8:12). There are three violet (purple) candles and one rose candle which, in addition to representing the four weeks of the Advent season, traditionally also each represent 1,000 years. Added together, the four candles symbolize the approximately 4,000 years that humanity waited for the Savior.
Violet (purple) is the liturgical color that is used to signify a time of penance, sacrifice, and prayer. It is also the color of royality. During the first two and the last weeks of Advent we light purple candles. The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. On this day we celebrate that our waiting for Christmas is almost over. Rose is a liturgical color that is used to signify joy, so we light the rose candle on the third Sunday of Advent. The anticipated Joy of Christmas (symbolized by the color white) is so great, that half way through the white breaks in and mixes with the purple of penance and give us the rose or pink candle.
Traditionally, each of the four candles on an Advent wreath has their own meaning. The first Sunday of Advent symbolizes Hope with the Prophet's Candle reminding us that Jesus is coming. The second Sunday of Advent symbolizes Faith with the Bethlehem Candle reminding us of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. The third Sunday of Advent symbolizes Joy with the Shepherd's Candle reminding us of the Joy the world experienced at the coming birth of Jesus. The fourth Sunday symbolizes Peace with the Angel's Candle reminding us of the message of the angels: "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men."
When Advent Wreaths are decorated the materials often have symbolic meaning. The use of evergreens reminds us of our eternal life with Christ, holly represents the crown of thorns from the Passion of Jesus, and pinecones symbolize Christ's Resurrection.
At the church there is a devotional booklet, Thy Kingdom Come, for your use each day during Advent. Be sure to pick one up and take the few additional minutes each day from now until Christmas to draw closer to God.
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Be in prayer that you may truly receive Jesus into your heart and life, and walk with him during this Advent season. Pray that all of your family and friends may draw closer to God and that you may all celebrate with the real Spirit of Christmas. Pray that God will show you how to bless others during this Advent.
In the midst of your busy schedules, please be intentional about finding some time, even 15 minutes a day, to connect to God. Please continue to do your reading and writing. Remember, you can call Rev. Dennis E. Dorsch at any time if you have questions or want to discuss your reading at 410-744-5127, or e-mail at ded10@aol.com.
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