As Claire and I were driving to Virginia this last week I mentioned in an off-hand comment that I was looking forward to Advent. Because let's face it, selfishly, we want the Trinity Season to be more exciting. We have Advent and Christmas, then a short break, we are in Lent, and then Easter is upon us. But after Easter, we just wait until Advent again. Even as I prepare bulletins I always find myself thinking, “Just how many Sundays are there in Trinity?!?” becoming bored with the quiet part of the church year and desiring the exciting and fast-paced festival season.
At first, I was convicted by this, why should I want to skip ahead? The entirety of Christ’s life was given for our learning and education, not just his birth and death. But after some further reflection, I realized that perhaps I was learning from the Trinity Season. Our Fathers who handed down the Historic Lectionary did not simply throw things together, but put it together for a reason. Christ our Lord did not simply happen to clump the festivals of the church into one section of our calendar by accident. If we remember that Christ does not do things by accident but with purpose we are invited to wonder and ask why, to reflect and think upon the reason.
And one of the reasons, that struck me is this: Trinity, this long season, is symbolic of the life of the Christian. We walk through the Christian life once again alongside Christ so that we might yearn for the coming of Christ. For that is the highest desire of a Christian, for Christ to return and to set him and all believers free from their sinful flesh. We as Christians ought to pray “Come Lord Jesus”.
And that is precisely what Advent is about. Not simply the first coming of Christ but the second. Preparing the hearts and minds of men to hear the voice of the Lord and to rejoice in his presence. The Trinity season is indeed long, but this length creates in the Christian a desire for Christ’s presence. It forces us to look and yearn for what is to come. It causes us to pray with the saints of old “Come Lord Jesus”.
Pax Domini,
Pastor Burgdorf
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