Advent of reflection

As I write this, we are speeding through the liturgical season of Advent in the life of the church.

Advent being a time of preparation and reflection as we draw near to the time we celebrate the birth of the Christ child “God with Us.” Each year as each of the four weeks of advent come we are reminded of particular things important in our life as followers of this Jesus the Christ, and hopefully we will reconnect to them, in preparation of greeting the newborn Christ, that he might be born anew in our hearts.

Week one speaks to hope — truly focusing on our sure and certain hope of life everlasting through Jesus the Christ.

Week two focuses on Peace — Jesus is the Peace bringer and the Prince of peace.

Week three leads us to Joy because in Christ true Joy is found and the world can rejoice in its eternal redemption through Jesus.

Week four is all about Love, and not just the love the Father has for his children to send his Son to be born into the word to bring about redemption and sanctification of all. Instead focusing on how Jesus leads us to a new type of Love, a sacrificial Love. This love is embedded in John 13:34 when Jesus gives us a new commandment. We are to love one another.

This verse in particular I have been focused on a lot this advent. I, as most of you, am a slave to social media and over and over again I hear about keeping Christ in Christmas. Well this verse from John has helped me prepare in Advent for the coming of Christmas because it ends with “If we love then they will know we are His disciples.”

We don’t have to make a big show of it but by simple acts we can be drawn closer to the Advent of a Savior in our lives and perhaps be a stepping stone in the path for someone else to fall in love with a Savior — .the one born in a barn and not a palace. So as we prepare for the coming of a Savior in the apparel of a newborn King, let us reflect on what will draw us close to keeping Christ in Christmas. Let not your heart be closed to a fresh encounter with the Christ child this advent and Christmas Tide. Blessings

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Editor’s note: James Crews is with the Episcopal Church, Pea Ridge. The views expressed are those of the writer.