A: Recalling the Arrival of (1) the only-begotten Son of the Father as Immanuel, God made Man, born of the Virgin Mary, as the Infant of Bethlehem; and (2) the same Son of God, now as the Christ, Lord, and Savior, with the hosts of heaven, to raise the dead, judge the nations and open heaven for the righteous and hell for the wicked.
D: Remembering the Day of the LORD as being (1) the Day foretold by prophets, sages and psalmists of the birth of the Messiah, the Light for the Gentiles and the Glory for Israel; and (2) the Day of the Judgment of the Nations and Peoples, the Day when the LORD reveals his attributes of holiness and righteousness.
V: The time especially for Venite; that is, the time when we are called to come before the Lord to praise Him for his COMING to us in mercy and grace: Venite adoremus. And Psalm 95, “O Come, let us sing unto the Lord…”
E: The initial period in the Church Year and specifically one of Expectation, that is of (1) liturgical expectation throughout the four Sundays as the people of God in “liturgical time” deepen their desire for the arrival of the Messiah and Lord; and (2) living hope (expectation) for the Second Coming in glory with the holy angels of the same Messiah.
N: The narration from Scripture, through liturgical word and ceremony, and through psalms, hymns and songs, of the creating and redeeming acts of God the Father, through his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, of his two Comings.
T: The first season of the Church Year, and the season in which the people of God are introduced to Theotokos, the Birth-Giver of [the Son of] God, even the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter Toon Eve of Advent Sunday 2008
The Revd Dr Peter Toon
petertoon@msn.com
drpetertoon@yahoo.com
