Going forward into a new year might be an exciting, but also apprehensive time, for many people. Going into the unknown is something all people grapple with, but which the promises of God prepare us. With the arrival of Christ in our midst, the realization of the divine promises, what assures us so we might live within the calling and purpose we should?

The birth of Jesus Christ is the celebration of a new reality, as much as a historical event. It is a revelation to the world as to how the LORD operates, and what he values the most out of anything we can do. And makes us wonder about our lives and how they fit into this grand design of salvation.

The arrival of Christmas takes us from expectation to celebration, with the Virgin Mary aiding us in that transition. We do not typically see her as a prophet, but through her participation in the LORD's promises demonstrates how important the arrival of Jesus Christ is to the world- and to us.

As the time of the promised one draws closer, we are made to reflect on who this is? What does his arrival say about our lives, what we need, and what he is willing to provide? The LORD has come for all he cherishes throughout creation, knowing what we are capable of when we have the right guidance. This is a time to focus on what the LORD has already given us, and how it is being used for our betterment.

We are warned to “be awake” and “be alert” by the prophets to everything happening around us. God is moving in a specific way into this world, and does so for very specific reasons. To disarm the powers of this world, subvert their actions and reasonings, so his own will stand in certainty. Those promises prove to be disruptive to our lives, never allowing us to think the same way again, and make us examine what we are doing today to welcome his presence.

As we anticipate the coming of Christmas, we are called to focus on what the idea of Christ’s coming means. He is the response of God to the problems of the world, and of human life. He has come to address and correct what we do, and how we see the world. He comes to judge the world, which means more than just punishing evil. But to purify and provide a new way forward where we thought there was a dead-end.

With the end of the Christian year, we look back on all that God has led us through. We have witnessed the way in which his rule has called, inspired, and sent us out. Despite all the contradictory information the world and its leaders send us, we have been given a glimpse as to who is truly capable. And it is that call, that example, and that stern assurance which allows us to face this new season in confidence.

The coming of Christ in final judgment is not a pinpoint in time that we are to predict, even though many have tried. It is an era by which we might look at our world, examine our lives, and understand what we are doing for the master. This is a time to see if we truly have articulated, and embody, what God values and desires. Not out of fear of punishment, but in fulfilling our purpose in allowing knowledge and access to the divine by all.

The end of the Christian year brings a sense of anticipation for the coming of Christ, in more ways than one. To understand Christmas, the gifting of Jesus Christ to humanity, is coupled with understanding the return of Christ in glory at the end times. It is not something to fear or be concerned about, but to be celebrated as the revealing of a great truth. An assurance that someone capable is coming in response to the issues we face now.

Remember and celebrating the Saints of God has a particular weariness among Protestant Christians, due to some holdover beliefs from another time. But honoring the lives of the faithful is an invaluable gift to us learning to live the faith today, and provides opportunity to witness divine love and grace like we never could on our own.