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Christ from the very first moment of his existence virtually bears all men within himself....For the Word did not merely take a human body; he incorporated himself in our humanity, and incorporated our humanity in his humanity.
– G. K. Chesterton
As a man, what does Advent mean?
What is a winsome onramp to engage in the practice of Advent for our own souls and for those entrusted to our care?
And what is the fruit of a wholehearted preparation for the Coming of Christ in the final days of our calendar year?
As we explore Advent, we might be pleasantly surprised to find it is not only a celebration of Christ’s cunning entry into the landscape of humanity, but a rousing call to prepare for his Return and the Restoration of All Things he promises.
And so we are invited not only to seasonal readying of hearts and lives, but to become the kind of men who urgently desire and ardently prepare for his Coming Again.
It has been said that when the will of God meets the will of man, one must die. St. John the Baptist expressed this holy exchange between himself and his God in this way: “I must decrease, so Christ can increase.”
Advent is yet another powerful context for our masculine initiation, an opportunity to relinquish our inferior self-will in order to joyfully receive more of our King and his Indestructible Life.
Christ has come, and he is coming.
Behind it all is a Person.
And that Person is God—coming for us.
Pause with me and Simon Kyne as we wonder together how we can be men who are ready to receive the God who is coming.
For the Kingdom,
Morgan
P.S. If you want to go deeper, engage these calendars, Scriptures, and prayers, inviting God to illuminate a deeper meaning of Advent.
Advent as considering the Incarnation:
Isaiah 40:1-4
Isaiah 60:1-3
Isaiah 61:1-3
Micah 5:2
John 1:1-12
Luke 1:26-38
Advent as preparing for the Second Coming of Christ:
Matthew 24:37-44
Matthew 25:1-13
Mark 13:33-37
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Advent Wreath and Prayers for Lighting
Tradition of Hay in the Manger
Pray or Sing the O Antiphons