Advent Season :: Christmas greeting to all the readers

Rev S Prim Vaiphei *

We are now within the Advent Season, waiting and preparing for the coming Christmas. Advent Season is the most important season for the Christians. Next to this is LENT season which is observed as annual season or fasting and penitence. It starts on Ash Wednesday (40 days before Easter Sunday).

The word Advent comes from Latin word Adventus which means 'coming' (the coming or the Lord Jesus). The birth of Christ was his first Advent and we are now waiting for His second Advent.

The Christian group who observed the Seventh day of the week and believed the imminent return of Christ are known as the 'Seventh-Day Adventist'. According to the practice of the Western Church - the first Sunday of Advent is the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's day (Nov 30).

Four Sunday in advent thus always precedes Christmas day. And in the Eastern Church Advent season, is much longer, beginning in the middle of November. The beginning of this Advent season is also the day on which tbe ecclesiastical year begins.

During this Advent Season, Christians throughout the world used to decorate their houses, churches with Christmas trees, Christmas stars, placing the statue or Santa-Claus (St Nicholas) and send Christmas cards and gifts to each other. Colleges, Schools, Universities, Hostels used to celebrate Christmas in advance as Advance Christmas (not Advent Christmas) because they will not be at their institution during Christmas day.

Some Protestant Christians wrongly used the word Advent naming the advance Christmas as Advent Christmas. Our Roman Catholic brethren strictly observed this Advent season with MASS, Special prayers, Bible reading (dominated by the Book or Isaiah) and other Christian rites.

It was on Dec. 16, 2010 Fr. Devassy of Retreat Centre Mantripukhri gave a short speech at our Committee meeting of the All Manipur Christian Organisation regarding the use of this word Advent, because many protestant Christians do not understand what the word Advent means.

Now as we are going to observe the birthday or Christ, the Prince or the Peace, the Saviour or the world. Let us ask ourselves 'Are we going to observe this Christmas festival according to the will of Jesus.

He be pleased the way we celebrate His birthday. Though He was born on this particular day, the world today is observing it as His birth day.

As we are waiting for the Christmas day, let us not wait for the 'Feast but for Christ. Let us open our hearts and welcome the Lord Jesus in our hearts to be the Master of our lives.

Unless we welcome Him to be born anew in our hearts and allow Him to be the Master of our lives our observance of the Day, the money, time energies we spent for the same will be meaningless.

It should not be a time or making merriment eating, drinking, and dancing but a time to re-dedicate our lives to Him welcoming the New born king with joyous heart. All our celebration, merrymaking etc. be Christ-centred programmes.