Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2016

Abstract

In conventional messages for Advent, we tend to preach Jesus as King of Kings, the Lord of the universe, the Son of God, and the like. We want to celebrate Jesus who came and will come again as the eternal Ruler, Restorer, and Sustainer of the whole natural and human worlds. Though certainly there is nothing wrong or inappropriate in this type of redemptive message, it lacks any mention of the human nature of Jesus and the close connection of human Jesus with down-to-earth human beings. The “super divinity” of Jesus has so occupied the Advent message that the humble humanity of Jesus is lost in Advent spirituality as well as more broadly in our dogma. Advent is, however, also about how Jesus came down to earth in the humble, human form in order to live together with humanity, weep together with them, protest together, drink and eat together, and eventually walk together on their faith journey as pilgrims on earth, now in the Spirit (Augustine). We Christians are and will be perpetual pilgrims on earth until the final Advent when we shall see Jesus. The season of Advent should be when we learn and practice this pilgrim spirituality as is well exemplified in the earthly life of Jesus himself.

Comments

Originally published in Yang, S. (2016). Preaching Jesus as a “Peregrinus.” Journal for Preachers, 40(1), 35–39.

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