The Call of Advent

“The Call of Advent” is the La Cañada Valley Sun’s Advent series on the messages of Christ’s birth as interpreted by area religious leaders.

“Advent” is one of those old fashioned words that most people don’t use or even understand, including many Christians. But do we ever need Advent!

The word “advent” means “coming.” The church season of Advent — the four Sundays before Christmas — is all about anticipating and preparing for Jesus. The season says, “Jesus is coming again to his world and his people, so we better get ready!” But if you are a long time professing and practicing Christian, is this necessary?

The need to getting serious about Advent is all wrapped up in the radical difference between us and God. The prophet Isaiah (55.8), speaking for God, says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.”

We earthly creatures of God show a real propensity to follow the ways of the world, rather than the commands of God. We try not to, but the world is so enticing, and no more so than at Christmas. Buy, buy, buy — spend, spend, spend. We celebrate the birthday of the one who had nowhere to lay his head by loading up on stuff, while many of his children remain in need.

Advent gives us time to refocus on Jesus as his birthday approaches. We may not always do it, but Advent gives us the opportunity to try.

It’s not too late to make this a real Christ-mass, so let’s go for it!

Pastor Rob Calderhead

La Cañada

United Methodist Church

Advent is a very special time for Christians and Muslims to reflect on the birth and mission of Jesus Christ. My hope, God willing, is that Christians and Muslims first have a basic understanding of each other’s beliefs. In doing so, we can embrace our similarities while respecting our distinct differences in order to promote peace and mutual understanding.

Belief in all of God’s Prophets is one of Islam’s “Six Articles of Faith,” which comprise of belief in the one God, the angles of God, the sacred books of God, the hereafter (heaven and hell) and the destiny of God’s will. Muslims are taught to love and respect all of God’s prophets and to not make any distinction between them. The prophets include several that are mentioned in the Bible, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, to name a few.

The Quran mentions Jesus 25 times and dedicates the name of Chapter 19 to the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary. Muslims consider Mary among the most pious and noble women in history. Part of Mary’s story is related in the Quran (Chapter 3, Verses 45-46) “Lo! The angels said: ‘O Mary! Behold, God sends thee glad tidings, through a word from your Lord of a son who shall become known as the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, of great honor in this world and in the life to come, and shall be of those who are drawn near unto God. And he shall speak unto men in his cradle and as a grown man, and shall be of the righteous.’” Muslims not only believe in the virgin birth of Jesus but also in the many miracles God granted Jesus during his mission on earth.

The main theological difference between Islam and Christianity revolves around the concept of Jesus being the “son of God” or sharing in God’s divinity. In Islam, the lines between divinity and humanity are kept very clear. Muslims believe in the one God as the all powerful and self-sufficient Creator who, in the words of the Quran (chapter 112), “God begets none nor is God begotten.” The Arabic translation of “God” is simply “Allah,” a term used by both Muslim and Christian Arabs.

Another difference between the two religions is that Islamic holidays and calendar do not center around the life or death of a prophet but rather on the devotional worship of God. So the main Islamic holidays mark the end of Ramadan (the month of fasting) and the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca. The Islamic calendar starts with the migration of the Prophet Mohammed from the city of Mecca to Medina to escape oppression and establish religious freedom for all, including Muslims, thus signifying a great tuning point in the history of Islam.

American Muslims should take this opportunity to learn from and pay our respects to our fellow Christians for “The Call of Advent.”

May this Advent be a time of interfaith fellowship, community service and citizenship that unites us all in faith as one great country honoring pluralism, religious freedom and each other.

Amen.

Merry Christmas and peace to all!

Levent Akbarut

Islamic Congregation of

La Cañada Flintridge