One of my favorite Advent figures is Simeon, another witness to Advent being the act of God to form the new Messiah-led community. Notice what Simeon says when God reveals to him that the little baby in the Temple is the Messiah — from Luke 2:

25 Now
there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and
devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy
Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved
by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought
in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Messiah means peace. Messiah means salvation (probably as with Zechariah: liberation of God’s people from its enemies). Messiah means public redemption. Messiah means revelation of redemption for Gentiles and the glory of Israel.

Advent is a supremely community act of God.