Triptych Advent 2023

Advent is the season for Christians to remember and rehearse "the coming of the Lord." The birth of Jesus is God's embodiment, or incarnation, among us. The days after Christmas through The Epiphany mark the early life of Jesus, including the perils he faced. This guide offers a view through both of these seasons using the "lens" of three foundational scriptures, Isaiah 58:1-14, Luke 1:46-55, and Luke 4:16-21. We use these three texts as a "triptych," borrowing on the name for an art piece of three thematically and physically connected panels, often used as an altarpiece, especially when designed by classical artists. While it is hoped that our triptych will lead us upon the annually rehearsed path to the arrival of the infant Jesus, it invites us beyond the physical journey. This "triptych" is designed to propel us throughout a spiritual journey from Advent to Epiphany and, if possible, to help to make our experience all the more enjoyable. Though figuratively "hinged" together, our scriptural road maps are also held together by the Holy Spirit as we anticipate the celebration of Jesus coming among us.