Reflections from our church family this Advent.
Follow the whole series here.
Maranatha
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
One of the earliest recorded prayers of the Church is the Aramaic word Maranatha, which literally means, ‘Come, Lord Jesus’. The Latin word adventus means the same thing: ‘come’.
Advent is a season of waiting and wanting, looking and longing, inviting Christ to come once more into our lives and into our world
Way back in the twelfth century, Bernard of Clairvaux, who was the founder of the Cistercian order of monks, said that Christ comes to us in three different ways: firstly, in Bethlehem at Christmas; secondly, at the end of the age; and thirdly, in the lives of believers every single day. So, let’s pray for all three of Christ’s comings this Advent:
Prayer
Thank You, Father, for loving us so much that You sent Your Son to save us.
Maranatha. May Jesus be born again amongst us this Christmas.
Thank You, Jesus, that You came before and You are coming again in glory.
Maranatha. We long for You to return and make all things new.
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for filling my life.
Maranatha. May the Lord Jesus Christ be born again in me today.