A Users' Guide for Episcopalians

The liturgical season of Advent is a time of waiting and preparation, anticipation, and hope. It consists of four weeks of preparation. The nature of the lectionary readings isof a two-fold quality: the first two weeks are somewhat eschatological (with emphasis onthe end times); these readings dovetail from those final weeks in post-pentecostalOrdinary Time, which have an orientation towards the end of time, the "end things" of itall. As we move toward weeks three and four, the mood gets brisker, more joyous, witha reference to the coming Savior and Messiah.The color of advent is typically purple or blue. This somber color is mildly penetential innature, reflecting the need to be careful and watchful, to repent and wait. Yet thewaiting is more relaxed than that of Lent.In today's gospel Jesus explains that no one knows the time of the Second Coming,therefore, we should always be prepared.