We celebrate Advent with both the first coming of Christ, but also very often of the final and eschatological coming of Christ. St. Bernard of Clairvaux proposes, in a famous sermon given in the 12th Century France, that there are not just these 2 comings, or advents, but actually 3 comings// 3 advents:

  1. The Advent we celebrate now at Christmas with Christ’s coming.
  2. The Advent we anticipate in the end times when Christ comes again.  But…
  3. The Advent we can experience in the waiting time between on a daily basis.

As we continue to reflect on the Advent of the Messiah, Jesus coming as the Christ child, today our scripture focus us on these other two Advents – His coming again and his daily presence in our lives.