Advent is Here! – By Rev. Dr. Kamau Thairu
A young man comes to me on the corridor from the vestry and tells me … “Pasi, hii syllabus mnakimbisha haraka sana. Yaani mambo ni teke teke.”
I stop and ask…”sasa ni syllabus gani”.
He retorts and say: “Mwaka ukianza nilisikia kwa neighbour wakisema nyota inaibiwa tupande mbegu kwa mkuu… Neighbour mwingine nimesikia ati ako na anointed nails… Sasa wewe unesema leo ati kesho Sunday DECEMBER 1, 2024 ni ADVENT.
True. True. Tomorrow Sunday December 1 is advent. It comes four Sundays before Christmas.
Sasa Pasi…wharrathis?
I respond, “Advent is the first season in the liturgical year”.
“Sasa ona maneno yenu. Kwa leaders seminar tumeambiwa we have two years in the Church: Financial year which is October 1 to September 30; Adminstrative year- January 1 to December 31. Sasa hii ingine unasoma ni gani?” he quips looking confused.
You see, in the early Church, they choose to celebrate and teach about Christ in very practical ways. So, they organised the life of Christ in events so that in one year they celebrated the life of Christ. They celebrated his birth during Christmas. His death and resurrection during easter and his 40 days of fasting in the wilderness as lent.
Advent is a celebrated FOUR Sundays before Christmas. It is meant to help us prepare to receive the king. Advent is from the Latin word adventus and translated in the New Testament as paraouisia ‘to come’. In this season we prepare the coming of Christ as a human being i.e. his incarnation otherwise know us his birth. We also prepare for his second coming when he comes back in glory as a powerful king of Glory.
Sawa pasi. Hapo tuko pamoja. Lakini I never see it celebrated in our Church.
First, it’s a part of our tradition that is never commemorated. And this is a big oversight. Our Book of Common Prayer (2011.43) provides select Bible reading for Advent. Meaning the Church has guided in this tradition we never practise.
Secondly, the PP. in CAP 2.15 clearly indicates that we should celebrate this seasons not only in every worship service but when also these special circumstances prevail.
“So Pasi nimepata picha kuliko Rose Muhando” kesho ni ADVENT. Mimi na mbogi yangu, advent this year will be advent!
One more thing…the colour to symbolise Advent is purple.