Advent Sunday! Happy New Year!

Written by Fr. Joshua Ajayi - St. Anselm Anglican - Lakewood, OH

​Today is Advent Sunday, the beginning of the Christian year or Calendar. It is not out of place as Christians to wish one another happy new year today.

The season of Advent lasts for four Sundays leading to Christmas. It is a solemn season and as such Gloria in excelsis may be omitted during Holy Eucharist.

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. Advent has come to Mark the coming of Jesus first as a child born in a manger and his second coming as the judge. The entire World awaits the coming of Jesus not as a Messiah again but the harvester of the world.

This Year 2021 has been very challenging globally with the adverse effects of the strange pandemic that has thus killed millions of people and stirred acidic hunger. This calls for sober reflection and total submission to God as the controller of the Universe.  Prayer of mercy upon the Nations of the World is most crucial to heal and restore.

Going forward therefore, it is expedient for us to re-examine ourselves whether we are still in the faith or already drifted. At the coming of Jesus every secret thing shall come into light. Let us therefore prepare through sincere repentance of our sins and readiness to practice holiness in words, thoughts and deeds.

Remember, your position and title in the Church and in the Nation cannot save you, only sincere obedience to God and His words.

The Church must therefore grow above deadly politics of chasing away the Holy Ghost and ruling with human wisdom. The Church must preach Christ and not self. Those who carry the sword of authority must be just and labour hard to unite the Church with special attention to the prayer of Jesus “that they may all be one” (John 17:21)

The collect of today admonishes us to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. It is an expected time of a new beginning for the Church and the Nation. Let us therefore lay a new foundation of holiness, love, peace and unity.
Let me leave you with this rhetorical question. Will you be ready when Jesus shall come?
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Happy Advent!
Happy New Year!
Happy new month in advance!