Observing Advent

As a part of the Christian year, the Church established Advent and set four weeks as a time of preparation. Many activities will fill our calendars over the next month. Worship services will take on a special focus. Advent candles will be lighted each of the four Sundays prior to Christmas. Songs of hope and expectancy will be sung. The words of the Old Testament prophets will be resurrected once again to proclaim an age old promise of a savior. The reason for the season was expressed by the prophet Isaiah: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

While the season of Advent is to be a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Savior, somehow our lives become more intertwined in the expectations that often overshadow the reason for the season which proclaims joy to the world. Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist, Ray McAllister, recently wrote these words relating to the season before us: “The Christmas selling season is going full blast. We're talking one full month of an all-out advertising blitz demanding, over and over, that we buy something, anything, and keep buying. Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is what Jesus had in mind.”

We need to be intentional about what we do during this holy time if the occasion is to have special meaning for our lives. We also need to slow down and experience the quiet times of reflection that allows us to encounter the holy mystery of God’s love.

Christinna Rossetti expressed the heart beat of Christmas when she wrote these words:

“Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign.”

As we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth, may we stay focused on matters that really matter which point to what God has done on our behalf