Today is the first day of Advent, which is a season of preparation. This time of year feels like a season of preparation, so perhaps that is appropriate. We are busy preparing for out of town visitors. We are preparing for large meals. We are preparing to give gifts to our children or family members. These, however, are not the sort of preparations we are talking about today—in fact, they often compete with the preparations to which we should be attending. In this season of Advent, we are invited to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. On this first day of Advent, we are drawn into the preparations required for Christ’s first coming as the Christ child that we might also be prepared for Christ’s second coming as the reigning king of the Kingdom of God.