Experiencing Advent: Rediscovering the Heart of God’s Love

Opening Reflection

As we enter the Advent season, we’re invited to reflect not only on the familiar figures of the Christmas story—angels, shepherds, Mary, and Joseph—but also on those who often stand in the background: Anna, Simeon, Elizabeth and even John the Baptist. Their stories, filled with anticipation and joy, remind us of the deeper meaning of Advent: the coming of Jesus as God’s promised way of salvation.

The Joy of Anticipation

Last week’s message explored the joy described in Luke 1:44, where the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy at Mary’s greeting. This joy, rooted in the Greek word “ἀγαλλίασις,” refers to the anticipated joy of God’s promised salvation. It’s a joy that transcends circumstances, arising from the fulfillment of God’s promise through Jesus.

Rethinking God the Father

Often, our image of God is shaped by Old Testament portrayals: the stern judge, the keeper of commandments, the one who watches and condemns. In contrast, Jesus is seen as compassionate, welcoming, and loving. But this separation is incomplete. The heart of God the Father is not solely justice—it is also love, compassion, and comfort. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, describes God as “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort”.

The Problem of Sin and the Gift of Love

Sin, as described in the transcript, is not just the bad things we do but a fundamental missing of the mark of God’s perfect holiness. Sin creates a fatal barrier between God and humanity—one that cannot be bridged by human effort. Yet, God’s response is not vengeful wrath but a broken heart longing for reconciliation. The coming of Jesus is God’s solution, a way to restore the relationship between Creator and creation.

God’s Active Love

The Christmas story is a story of God’s initiative. “God sent an angel to Mary,” the story reminds us. In John 3:16-17, we read: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son… For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” The active verbs—gave, sent, loved—reveal the heart of God: a heart of giving, sending, and saving.

Contrasting Worldly and Divine Philosophies

The world’s voice is loud, offering its own versions of hope, joy, peace, and love. But these are qualitatively different from what God offers. C.S. Lewis, in “The Weight of Glory,” writes that our desires are “not too strong, but too weak.” We settle for lesser joys, unable to imagine the infinite joy God offers. We are warned about the endless scroll of social media and worldly philosophies can form us into anxious, distracted, and restless people, far from the peace and love God intends.

The Heart of Advent: Love That Transforms

At the centre of Advent is love—agape love, a love that is concerned for the other, not for oneself. Without Advent, without Jesus, we cannot truly know God or love. God’s love is big enough to meet every burden, doubt, and shame. As Thomas Goodwin wrote, “If your heart is hard, God’s love is tender. If your heart is dead, he has love to make it come alive. If you are sick, he has love to heal you. If you are sinful, he has love to sanctify and cleanse you”.

Closing Encouragement

1 John 4:7-12 reminds us, “Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God… This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” As we journey through Advent, may we open our hearts to this love, letting it transform us and overflow to those around us.