Embracing Advent: Wisdom from the Early Church Fathers

Dear Friends,

As we approach the beautiful and solemn season of Advent, I find it fitting to pause our ongoing reflections on the "Centuries on Love" and create a sacred space for contemplation and anticipation. In this spirit, I am delighted to announce that beginning tomorrow, December 3, the First Sunday in Advent, an Advent blog will begin that will feature daily devotions written by the members of our Daughters of the King chapter from St. Francis in-the-Field Episcopal Church.

As we prepare for our journey into this season, let's turn our gaze to the wisdom of the early church fathers, particularly Maximus the Confessor, St. Athanasius, and St. Gregory the Theologian, to understand the profound significance of Advent.

Maximus the Confessor: The Cosmic Significance of Christ's Coming

Maximus the Confessor, known for his deep theological insights, emphasized the cosmic significance of Christ's incarnation, a central theme of Advent. In his works, he often spoke of Christ as the one who bridges the divide between Creator and creation. In his Ambigua, Maximus writes, "his is the great and hidden mystery. This is the blessed end for which all things were brought into existence. This is the divine purpose conceived before the beginning of beings, and in defining it we would say that this mystery is the preconceived goal for the sake of which everything exists, but which itself exists on account of nothing, and it was with a view to this end that God created the essences of beings." This profound mystery of God being discovered in the incarnation, or advent of Jesus, is the heart of Advent, reminding us of the transformative power of Christ's birth.

St. Athanasius: The Restoration of Humanity

St. Athanasius, in his seminal work On the Incarnation, presents a vivid picture of why Christ's coming was necessary. He explains, "For the transgression of the commandment turned them [humans] back to their natural state, so that just as they, having their origin from non-existence, were therefore naturally subject to corruption.(My Translation)" Athanasius views Advent as a time to remember how Christ's birth restores humanity's connection with the divine, reversing the course of corruption and mortality.

St. Gregory the Theologian: The Mystery of the Incarnation

St. Justin Martyr, known for his eloquent oratory and deep theological argOn the one hand Being, and eternally Being, of the Eternal Being, above cause and word, for there was no word before The Word; and on the other hand for our sakes also Becoming, that He Who gives us our being might also give us our Well-being, or rather might restore us by His Incarnation". Gregory invites us to marvel at this mystery during Advent, seeing it as a time to deepen our understanding of the divine made flesh and rest in the word that is being revealed in scripture and in the world.

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, let these ancient voices guide us in a season marked not just by anticipation, but by deep theological reflection. Their teachings remind us that Advent is more than a countdown to Christmas; it is a profound journey into the heart of our faith, where we await the coming of Christ with renewed hope and joy.

In the spirit of this sacred season, I invite you all to join us in daily reflections, starting tomorrow. Let's journey together in faith, guided by the wisdom of the past and the lively contributions of the Daughters of the King.