Advent dates back to the mid-sixth century. By the 13th century, the whole church recognized the four Sundays leading up to Christmas as a period of preparation for Christ’s coming. If Christmas is a birthday party for Jesus, then Advent is a time to ponder what that birth means—and the fact that Christ changes everything. This pondering is both a past tense and future tense occupation. It is past tense, because Advent is a time to remember the prophetic promises that came tr