Advent is the beginning of the Christian Liturgical Year.
In advent, Christians put themselves back in the time before Christ. Just like orthodox Jews now look forward to the coming of their Messiah. Faithful Jews before Jesus were looking and longing for a Messiah to come to fulfill the promises the Hebrew scriptures promised.
Jesus came and challenged the Jewish understanding of the Messiah. He came to innaugurate the time of the Messiah which culiminated in his death and resurrection. This time continues now until his second coming which will culminate in the resurrection and judgement of all mankind.
Christians, like Jews, are still awaiting the ultimate fulfillment of the promises of the Hebrew Scriptures, but they wait for it having received the down payment of the Holy Spirit. This already/not-yet fulfillment of God’s promises gives shape to Christian theology during this “in between” time.
Learn more about advent with these resources:
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The last 2000 years of western history have been shaped by Christianity. For good and for ill, you don’t get to this moment in history without Jesus and a small band of revolutionaries. You can’t understand who you are without understanding the Christian faith.
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