First Sunday of Advent: Hope and Expectation
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined... For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9: 2,6, KJV)
During the Advent season, I will be presenting themes and biblical readings assigned to the four Sundays before Christmas in Western Christian churches with works from the Sacred Art Pilgrim Collection. Derived from the Latin word, adventus, meaning "coming" or 'arrival," Advent looks back to the birth of the long-awaited Messiah in Bethlehem and forward to the Second Coming of Christ to establish the rule of God on earth. This week's featured image for the first Sunday of Advent from the late Czech graphic artist, David Wojkowicz, beautifully illustrates the words of the Prophet Isaiah about the great light shining on people living in the shadow of death in a new media abstract print of the rising of the star in the East, which would lead the Wise Men to the Christ Child. (John Kohan)