Today, we associate the word “king” with ostentatious spectacle: pageants, ceremonies, castles, and palaces. But Jesus was a king of service, suffering – and was without a home: whispers and nudges, not shows of wealth and great force. Yet his whispers are still changing lives today…Subscribe to our sermon video clips on YouTube
On this first Sunday of Advent, we find ourselves in a season of faithful hope, of expectant anticipation. Historically, this day was known as Stirrup Sunday, a time when the good housewife began preparing her Christmas puddings. However, the compilers of the Book of alternate services disrupted this quaint English custom by moving the date.
Although charming, this tradition prompts us to reflect beyond what we are anticipating, and instead, focus on who we are anticipating. This is the essence of Advent—a period of preparation not merely for Christmas festivities, but for the deeper gifts it offers.
Who Are We Anticipating?
The easy answer is that Advent prepares us for Christmas. However, we often claim that the gifts exchanged during this season symbolize something greater—the Child of Bethlehem, who brings gifts not of material worth but of grace. It is imperative that we prepare by reshaping our lives to demonstrate our worthiness.
The traditional gospel for today speaks of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem—an entrance that exemplifies anticipation. Yet, this anticipation was met with questions of identity, prompting us to dig deeper into the biblical narrative to truly understand who this Savior is.
Jesus, the Savior
The first thread in understanding who we are anticipating during Advent is the identity of this child as Jesus, understood to mean “savior.” Soon, we will hear the story from Matthew where Joseph is told about Mary’s child, who is named Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew also provides another name, Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.” This is a declaration that God himself is coming as a Savior, one who does for others what they cannot do for themselves. Jesus’ arrival brings not a reward for our worthiness, but a covering for our manifest unworthiness. He releases us from the slavery of sin—a truth we acknowledge each Sunday in our confessions.
Jesus, the Servant King
A second thread identifies Jesus as a king, but not the kind anticipated in Jerusalem. “Behold, your king comes to you humble, mounted on a colt,” one who reigns not with worldly prestige but through humility and service. This is a king who was born in a cattle shed, entered Jerusalem on a donkey, and faced Roman crucifixion with the burden of the world’s whips.
His kingship is found in suffering service. Even Pilate recognized this and assigned him the title “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” In this king, highness is found in lowliness, strength in weakness, and victory in defeat.
Jesus, the Lord
Lastly, we explore Jesus’ understanding of his identity. While many called him a prophet, this title falls short of his true essence. Divine voices, demons, and Jesus himself acknowledged him as the Son of God, and he teaches us his lordship through actions done in saving love.
With supreme authority, he benefits others—to teach, heal, and save. As he declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” He grants forgiveness, freedom, and amnesty to those burdened by guilt, for he is Lord over all accused and accuser.
Preparing for His Coming
How then do we prepare for the coming of this Savior, Servant King, and Lord? First, not by attempting to prove our worth through resolutions, but by acknowledging what is wrong—a confession we perform every Sunday in worship. The Servant King equips us with objectives of peace and ways to achieve them.
We learn from Isaiah’s vision—transforming tools of war into instruments of peace. Such preparation also acknowledges our transition from people of the night to people of the day, as St. Paul describes. Behavioral changes, once impossible, now beckon us in the light of his arrival.
An Agenda Before Us
Our preparation for Advent must reflect our perception of who is coming. With trust in our Savior, recognition of the Servant King, and acceptance of our Lord, we prepare our hearts for the profound meaning of this season.
Advent invites us into a transformative journey, beginning with humble reflection and culminating in a renewed understanding of grace, service, and divine authority. This is the message I am entrusted to share, under the authority of the Lord himself.