The First Sunday of Advent

The Aroma of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new church year. The Advent wreath is out with the first candle lit; we sand the great Advent hymn, “O come, o come, Immanuel” and prayed the Advent collect, “Let us cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” The green vestments have finally given way to blue.

Advent is a wonderful season. A new metaphor for Advent has recently come to me. Advent is like the aroma of something glorious baking in the oven. It is in the oven. The process has begun. Fulfillment has not yet come, but it is immanent and inevitable. The enjoyment of a favorite food, perhaps the rich communion of a meal with beloved friends or family… these will come soon. Advent is like the aroma of something glorious baking in the oven.

Sometimes Advent is called a time of waiting. And we do wait. But it us much more than just waiting. Waiting is not always a pleasant experience. Waiting in traffic, for instance. Waiting is often just killing time. Waiting lacks the expectancy of Advent.

Advent is also called a time of hope. And, indeed, it is. Hope is a part of our Christian makeup, but it can be abstract. Hope, as a general posture based on trust in God, is an important Christian discipline. But it lacks the tangible immanence of Advent.

The roast is in the oven. The aroma is mouth watering. The promise of Advent is specific and its fulfillment is near.

This metaphor for Advent came to me yesterday somewhere in the midst of baking batches six and seven of liver flavored dog treats for the cookie walk. For at least a week before the cookie walk, my house smells of baking liver. I like liver, although I’m not sure baking liver is an Advent aroma. But it reminded me of others that are.

It’s not a perfect metaphor. Even the best of human cooks sometimes messes up. The roast burns; the pecan pie doesn’t set; the bread doesn’t rise. God never messes up. The Advent promise is always fulfilled.

I often mention how much I value the seasons of the church year. They teach us about God and different aspects of our relationship with God. We experience the seasons sequentially, one after another. Christmas follows Advent and, in turn, is followed by Epiphany, Lent and Easter. But even though we experience the seasons sequentially in our worship life, in fact, they are cumulative. All of them are true all of the time. Which is to say we are always people of promise eagerly anticipating fulfillment. We are always Advent people. Even in the midst of Christmas’s peace. Even in the midst of Easter’s joy. We know that still greater blessing is coming soon. The TV ad that said “it doesn’t get any better than this ” got it wrong. It does get better. Always. A deeper fulfillment of God’s promise always lies ahead.

The fulfillment that we anticipate in Advent is two fold. One part, of course, is the incarnation, the full union of God with us, with humankind. And all of the guidance, peace, and love that Jesus’ presence with us brings.

The other part of God’s promise is described in today’s reading from Isaiah. It is of a world where the kingdoms of this world become one with the kingdom of God. And enmity, war and violence disappear.

The promises of Advent are specific and tangible and their fulfillment is near. A richer and deeper experience of God’s presence and purpose always lies ahead—just ahead. I pray that you may be blessed this year by the glorious aroma of Advent.