Advent

My Advent

Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming") is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus, in other words, the period immediately before Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western Christian year and commences on Advent Sunday.

Advent Sunday is the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. This is equivalent to the Sunday nearest to St Andrew's Day, 30 November,

Wikipedia

John Shuck has his sermon for the First Sunday in Advent up over at Shuck and Jive. He calls it a "season of waiting" and it is important to religious Christians. I don't remember ever worrying much about Advent. (I do remember an Advent Calendar with candy in it - but Jay being Jay it didn't last until Christmas) Advent was on the peripheral of my consciousness as a child. But then really so was church. Oh I went to Sunday School and to Church and I participated in MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) and I even gave a talk once to the Church on Youth Sunday (Wonder what happened to that talk.) But Advent, didn't mean much

Later as a Christian Scientist nothing was ever said about Advent. I likened it to the place of Christmas as I grew older and studied the Bible and read about how the early Catholic church "borrowed" pagan worship ceremonies and times in order to make the people more comfortable with Christianity. Much like the Romans did when they conquered the known world. They just co-opted the religions of the places they conquered and brought them to Rome. Made the people feel good

Advent and Chanukkah are both at this time of year. Chanukkah is not an important Jewish holiday. Christians have made it so because of its proximity to Christmas. Both are at the time of year when the dark is prevalent (It is dark at 5:00 these days) and we are waiting for the "Light" (sun) to return and we celebrate that return with joy and holidays.

I imagine that if any of you have read this far you think you know where I am going with this. You think I am going to repudiate Christmas and the Advent season. Well I am not. As I said I had never given much thought to this but John's sermon made me think. And probably not the way he anticipated.

I think the whole season of this time of year is a wonderful renewal of hope for all of us. I keep two kinds of Christmas. One is the secular Christmas with decorations, Christmas carols, cards. and presents and the other is my spiritual Christmas. In one (which I love) I get to give things to people and they have to accept them (most of the time) and like it. In giving I receive. I show people that I love them and want good things for them and their families. Last year I found out that I did not have to give presents. I could give my time and energy to help out on Christmas Day. I had a friend for whom a Christmas Dinner is named. The Jerry Marsengill Christmas Dinner takes place every year in Des Moines and it feeds people who would be alone on Christmas Day. Anyone can come. They also take Christmas Dinner out to people who can't make it down to the Scottish Rite Temple to eat. It is a wonderful way to give.

The other Christmas is the one I keep in my heart. (and I love it more) That is the one that I really keep all year long. When I think of the incredible gift which God gave to the world of the great teachers which he sent to us to teach us how to live and care and give to one another. The gift of His Sons and His Love. That is the Christmas I can keep all year long. Christ has come again, and again and again - in every act of love and kindness to a friend or to a stranger.

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Matthew 25:40

That is the one I want to share. I have read that Jesus was probably born sometime in April. That is when the shepherds were out in the fields "keeping their flocks." It doesn't matter that we celebrate it on December 25. What matters is that we keep the spirit of Advent (coming) in our hearts and ponder it. So go ahead and prepare for Christmas, get ready for the celebration. Plan to have fun. But keep the true meaning as well - all year long.

When I used to go home after the big Christmas Eve family party and orgy of gift giving and receiving I would stop and look up at the sky - looking for a Star perhaps - and wonder about Jesus and say a prayer of gratitude in my heart. Really just a momentary thing. A feeling of goodness. It helps get through the other times. The tough time when you think nobody loves you (even when they do) and the time when you wish things were different in the world and mankind could Love One Another in truth and not in lip service. The times when you are waiting for something and you know not what. That moment of acknowledging God's presence with us through the gift of his children can lift you up from the dark places and into the Light.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to my ramblings. Always Remember That You Are Loved. Hugs, J-bear