A commemoration of something as big as Christmas - the infinite God becoming a few pounds of human flesh - could not be allowed to just happen; people needed to be prepared for it.
In Advent Christians celebrate Christ's coming in three ways.
First, we celebrate his coming in history; secondly, we look to his coming again in the future; and thirdly, we look to his coming into our lives.
Advent looks forward to the world being utterly changed in every way by the coming of Christ. As you follow these reflections on Advent may your life be transformed in a similar way.