The Advent mixup

Once upon a time I was asked if Lutherans believed in the second coming of Jesus. After all we never talk about it, like in some churches.

As Lutherans who keep the traditional church calendar we celebrate the four Sundays of Advent which are a celebration of Christ’s second coming, which is promised so clearly in Scripture. Four Sundays every year just to remember Jesus promise to return. We light one candle each Sunday to mark our anticipation.

But we Lutherans have trouble keeping Advent, partly because we want to sing the Christmas carols and can’t wait until it’s Christmas Eve to do so.

We have trouble keeping advent partly because of the children’s Christmas pageant, which tells the story of Jesus’s birth. It has to be done before the kids go away to grandma’s house — so it has to be performed during advent. And then a visiting choir sings a song about baby Jesus.

On it goes until the promise of Jesus’s return is covered by the blankets in the manger and church- going Lutherans forget that they believe in the second coming.

So which is it? Are we celebrating the one who will come in power with great glory, the one that John the Baptist said, “among you stands one who you do not know, even he who come after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” Or is it the humble baby whose diaper Mary was deemed worthy to change?

Well of course it is both. It is always both.

During the four Sundays of Advent we are anticipating the Christmas celebration and at the same time we are remembering Jesus’s promise to come again. Jesus comes the first time in a quiet humble way and Jesus will come again in glory.

So now as churches around the world light their advent wreaths week by week in the leadup to Christmas, we might seem a little mixed up. Remembering what happened in Bethlehem so long ago and waiting for what lies ahead.

Lila de Waal is diaconal minister at Victory Lutheran Church.