Advent 1 - Two Advents, Two Realities, One Hope

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick (living) and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer 1662)

This Collect was penned by Archbishop Cranmer for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. It was rooted in the doctrines of the Reformation and the Scriptures. The readings from Romans 13:8-14 and Matthew 21:1-13 serve to exhort the faithful to live this life casting off the darkness as Salvation is at hand. The King is coming in triumph over sin and darkness.

Cranmer weaves together the two Advents of Christ and the two realities of all believers with our one hope - Jesus.

The first reality is that we live in the fallen world of darkness. We are daily faced with temptations and sin. Our hearts are fallen and given to lust for the things of this world, to pride, to envy and to strife. It was into this reality that Jesus made his first Advent. He humbled Himself and took on the form of man and was obedient to the point of death (Phil. 2). In the first Advent Jesus came as the Sacrifice, the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. He is fully aware of our trials and temptations. He has felt hunger, pain, sorrow and suffering. We cannot over come the Fallen and temptation ourselves, so He did what we could not do. He overcame the darkness and it is to Him we can run daily. The first Advent allows us to run to him and cast off the darkness.

Cranmer also reminds us of the coming Advent - Jesus is coming again, not as a Sacrifice, but as the Sovereign KING! He is coming to usher in a new Kingdom where there will be no more sin and the effects of the Fall will be no more. He will bring with Him the beginning of life eternal and the joy of our salvation. This will be our NEW REALITY! This reality seems so distance and hard to believe. However, it is just as real and certain as the Fall, the Cross, the Resurrection and the temptations and trials of this day. Thus, we need to live in light of the certainty of the Second Advent. We need to live as if He were coming today! As Martin Luther said, "I only have two days on my calendar - today and that day."

I want to encourage you to read this collect each day this week and remember: His first coming was real. His second coming is certain. You will face trials and temptations today, but you can run to Him. You will see in face to face one day. Hold fast to Jesus - He is our hope!