century, the tradition of setting aside the four weeks before Christmas as the season of Advent developed later, around the sixth century in the Middle East. Advent was seen as a time to look both backward and forward: backward, in celebration of the birth of Christ, and forward, with expectation of God’s coming to us anew. Thus Advent is a time to celebrate the past and anticipate the future; “living in Advent” is about being in a state of readiness for the continual coming of God into our lives.