We have entered into the Season of Advent on Christian Calendar. This is the time of the year when the Church intentionally recalls that Jesus said he would return to judge the world with his righteousness - the parousia - the second advent. This season in the church year is also a time to prepare to celebrate the first advent of the Lord -- his birth which we remember on Christmas.
The culture around us is already celebrating Christmas. We actually had houses in our neighborhood all decorated like Christmas before Thanksgiving. Even a local Christian radio station started playing Christmas music several days before Thanksgiving. When I received an email from a local bank on Thanksgiving Day wishing me a Merry Christmas, I promptly wrote back and reminded them that it was THANKSGIVING, not Christmas; that Thanksgiving is a day which Congress set aside as a national holiday to give thanks to Almighty God. This is one of my pet-peeves: Can't we at least celebrate Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day and then start celebrating Christmas? Do we really have to listen to Christmas Carols on the radio on Thanksgiving morning?
Well... it's Advent. Maranatha! Come, Lord, Come!
To hear my First Sunday of Advent Sermon entitled: "The Advent Message" click on http://www.holycrosspodcasts.org/C1-media;show,53
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