The First Sunday in Advent

The word orient means east or sunrise, and churches traditionally face east as a symbol of meeting the risen Christ. Some oriental rugs were even made with small crosses woven into them. If you look closely at the rug in front of our altar, you will see those crosses. They remind us that the cross is the way to God’s altar and that we are to take up the cross and offer our lives to God.

This connects to today’s gospel reading from Palm Sunday. The people placed garments and palm branches on the road to prepare a way for the King. They oriented themselves toward Christ and proclaimed, “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” words we still use in Holy Communion.

Advent calls us to do the same: prepare a way for the Lord with our lives. We ask whether our lives point others to Christ. Many strengthen their spiritual life in Advent with extra prayer, Scripture reading, or lighting an Advent wreath. We also dedicate our pledges as a sign of offering our whole selves to God.

May our lives during this Advent season be a clear path to the King of Kings, guiding others toward Christ through our witness.