Today begins Advent. It starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Advent means “coming.” Today we officially begin the retelling of the great invasion, the day when General King-of-Kings, disguised as a helpless baby, came out of the hiding place Mary had prepared for him 9 months before.
C.S. Lewis called the story of Christmas “The Invasion.” It is not a nice story about a cute baby surrounded by friendly animals. Instead, “Enemy-occupied territory-that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” (C.S.L., Mere Christianity)
With the coming of Jesus — The Incarnation — heaven invaded earth.
In the words of Peter Kreeft, philosophy professor at Boston College: “The general wants all citizens to know that the invasion has been successful and the mop-up operation is still under way. All are urged to join the operation. There is still plenty to do. But the General assures all his troops that final, total victory is absolutely assured.” The Angel and The Ants (Servant Publications, 1994)
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