Dear Friends in Christ,
The twin peaks of the liturgical year are Easter and Christmas, and both of these celebrations are preceded by a period of preparation. The purple of penance must come before the gold of glory revealed in Christ’s birth and Resurrection, and this is where the cultural and secular observance of Christmas can get in the way of a good Advent. On the radio and television and at the mall, Christmas has already been at our throats, but today is just the first Sunday of Advent! And on December 26th when the Church is only beginning to celebrate the liturgical season of Christmas, evergreen trees will begin to pile up on the curb and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer will disappear until next Halloween. Let’s just say STOP!
Advent is my favourite season. We now have four weeks in which to ponder the profound mystery of Christ coming to us for our salvation. In the past he did come to suffer and die for us. In the present he does come in Word and Sacrament to strengthen us in holiness. And in the future he will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. All three of these “advents” are part of this beautiful season of the liturgy, and if we attend to the Church’s rhythm of prayer, penance and preparation, then when Christmas Eve arrives, we will not be exhausted; we will be elated.
So, how to do this?
- Get an Advent wreath and light it at home each night while praying the Collect from Mass that day.
- Find a time each day (perhaps the early morning or the evening after supper) to sit quietly, without distractions, and open your mind and heart to the living and active Word of God. Start with one of the four Gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke or John) and read for a few minutes each day, a maximum of 10 mins. And be faithful to this practice every day.
- Come to Mass on weekdays as often as possible during Advent. Weekday Mass has a quiet, meditative quality that steals into our hearts and minds, and Advent is deeply enriched by Mass each day.
- Encourage your family and friends to think of things other than packages, boxes or bags. Make a local donation in someone’s name to Project Rachel or Anchor of Hope or to our own Parish, especially the Restoration Fund. Write a letter to someone you love to tell them so. Volunteer to serve someone in need.
- Go to Confession so that your Christmas Communion will truly be holy.
I am always encouraging people to not to surrender to secular ideas of how to celebrate the holiday season, but to participate in the Church’s culture of preparation.
We should not arrive at Christmas Day having worn ourselves out so that we have no energy or spirit left for the Christmas Season. It can be in our hearts with joy beyond all telling if we prepare with a worthy Advent.
Fr. Justin