a Lutheran’s Confessions

“The gifts of God are surely there, but a still greater gift it is to know and to acknowledge them… The gift above all gifts is Christ with His Word.”

1610 “What Luther Says” CPH

     That’s what Lutheran blogger and culture-commentator Gene Edward Veith advises.
     Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter—times to look at our lives in light of God’s Law and to repent of our sins. Indeed, we are to repent daily, and the Advent/Lent seasons remind us to do that.
     Such daily repentance is essential for a daily, joyful, embrace of the Gospel, the Good News that God freely forgives us on account of Jesus Christ. This is true joy—the joy of being forgiven by grace through faith in Jesus, the Savior who comes at Christmas, who comes in Word and Sacrament, and who is coming again to deliver us from the last enemy—death.
    For much of December, while the world feasts, the church fasts. While the world cries “joy,” the church cries “repent.” Both messages are needed, but in the right order—repentance first, rejoicing second. Advent first, Christmas second.