Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Grace and peace to you and your family from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!
We will be entering the season of Advent on 30 November 2025. The literal meaning of the word “advent” is “coming” or “arrival”. The season of Advent refers to the coming of Jesus Christ to earth to provide salvation through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Christians now anticipate a second advent when Christ will return to earth in bodily form to receive the church and to judge the nations.
As Christians, in the season of Advent, we commemorate Christ’s first coming to earth and live in anticipation of his second coming. In this light, the words of Moses in Psalm 90:12 offer an important reminder on how to live in anticipation of his second coming.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
“To number our days” can be interpreted as understanding the brevity of life. Verse 12 is a response to the 5 preceding verses (v 7 – 11). These earlier verses highlighted God’s anger, sin, and brevity of life. God’s anger towards man is the result of sin, and sin has consequences. The brevity of life, brought about by death, is one of the consequences of sin. However, the modern mind often struggles to comprehend the connection between mortality and sin. This is the deceitfulness of sin. We do not connect mortality with sin. We need to see that to live right. We die because we have sinned against God, and sin can only be dealt with through sacrifice. In the Old Testament, it is the ongoing sacrifice of animals for the atonement of sin. In the New Testament, it is through the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, that we receive full forgiveness of our sins.
So, in this season of Advent, may we be reminded of the urgency to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others, and may our need for Jesus grow deeper day by day.
May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favour and give you his peace.
Abp Dr Titus Chung
Vice President NCCS