The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “visit.” Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. The time before Christmas is Advent, a season of preparation for Christmas. We prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent, we’re reminded of how much we ourselves also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior’s second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas.