Shedding light on Advent

Anticipation is at the heart of Christmas in secular celebrations, with the remnants — torn wrapping paper and ribbon strewn around the tree on Dec. 25.

Yet for Christians looking toward the Second Coming of Christ, that anticipation becomes a monthlong celebration, not only of his birth in Bethlehem, but of the hope for his return that continues from year to year.

The season of Advent begins Sunday, the fourth Sabbath before Christmas arrives, and rather than simply focusing on the story of the Nativity, it becomes a dual symbol of both Christ's past and future coming for those who listen carefully to the liturgy and symbolism of the season.

Timothy Johnston of the Office of Liturgy at the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake said the duality of Advent may be new to some, particularly in the Catholic Church, because "we just don't hear about that very often. It's very rarely spoken about."

Despite the fact that St. Ambrose and St. Augustine emphasized Christ's return in the fourth through the seventh centuries, "over time I think culture has infiltrated into" how Catholics in particular, and some Christians in general, view the season of Advent.

"We've been bombarded with changes in popular culture, and that emphasis has changed over time. We live in a world where we're afraid of our own death and what the end times look like," he said.

Johnston has organized a series of three workshops focusing on the theology, spirituality and symbolism of Advent (see accompanying box) to help unearth some of the interpretations that have been obscured over the years.

"Before Vatican II took place (in the 1960s), a lot of preaching was fire and brimstone preaching. Since then, there's been a radical move away from that and everything kind of became 'fluffy' " when talk turned to Christ's return, he said. Some priests may be uncomfortable talking about it "because they may be afraid of how it will go over," he said.

Young people in particular don't know much about church teaching on "what does the end of the world mean, when Christ comes again. We really need to enrich that in the church," and the upcoming workshops are one way to "begin planting seeds so people will ask questions."

While Christians understand universally that Jesus was born a baby in Bethlehem, died on the cross and was resurrected, there is a vast difference of opinion about the form in which he will return to earth.

"Ultimately Christ is God incarnate, so it doesn't matter what form he returns in. He'll always come as God because there is no separation," Johnston said, adding there is no Catholic teaching about the form in which he will return or the timing of his advent.