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What Advent Offers Us

We blinked, and it happened.  The year has ended, and a new one begun, because for the Church, the arrival of the season of Advent marks the beginning of the new liturgical year.  The Church asks that we live Advent in anticipation of and preparation for the arrival of the Christ child, born again as the Child in the Manger, even as we know Christ is with us now, even as we continue to await Christ’s second coming. It is a complex notion, and as with many aspects of Christianity, can be hard to understand, but it involves being attentive.  Luke, in his Gospel, uses the words “be alert at all times.” That is hard to do.  With the best of intentions, we dose off, like the bridesmaids did in Matthew’s gospel; like Peter, James and John did while with Jesus in Gethsemane.  

Or we can choose to skip Advent altogether. Given the Christmas lights already displayed, maybe many folks have done just that, and are already into an extended season of Christmas.  It is tempting.  Alternatively, maybe those lights are a version of living Advent, because people are anxious for what Advent and Christmas offer us. If we can simply allow ourselves to live it, Advent and its themes can lead to a fuller celebration of Christmas

The first theme of Advent is Hope.  In his reflection last week, Trevor provided two excellent examples from his own life which spoke of still maintaining hope in seemingly hopeless situations.  Recently a friend shared with me this description by American poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer: “Hope has holes in its pockets.  It leaves little crumb trails so that we, when anxious can follow it.  Hope’s secret: it doesn’t know the destination – it knows only that all roads begin with one foot in front of the other.” The hope which Advent speaks of is one such road, and the crumb trails it offers can keep us grounded even during the “worries of this life” and the situations we encounter where hope seems impossible.

The second theme of Advent is Peace.  Peace is a constant cry in todays world – it is probably prayed for more than anything else.  At times I am sure we are overwhelmed by how little we can do to accomplish world peace.  Maybe we have set for ourselves an unattainable goal.  Why not aim instead for peace in our homes?  That, while still difficult, is certainly more manageable, especially if we can, as Great Big Sea sings, Let It Go, because sometimes it is indeed “smaller than you know, no bigger than a pebble lying on a gravel road.” Maybe we do “count your curses and forget about the blessings,” when we should, as Christians, do the reverse.

Advent’s third theme is Joy.  Too many of us equate joy with happiness.  However, “happiness is circumstantial,” American priest and podcaster, Michael Schmitz says, and many of us “base our lives on the pursuit” of it. Pope Francis notes that joy is an “abiding sense of well-being that can be experienced in any situation.” It is the knowledge that we are fully known and still loved unconditionally; that we are forever in the presence of a God who has told us, “I am with you always,” regardless of what we are living. 

The final theme of the Advent season is Love.  It is the culmination of our preparations.  St. Paul told the Corinthians “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”  In his homily last week, Fr. Phil ended by saying that truth is not a concept.  Truth is a person.  And that person is Jesus Christ.  I would argue that the same is true for Love.  Love is that Babe in the manger; love is that Person who is always with us.  And love never ends. 

Let’s journey through these themes this season and make room for each of them to take hold in us.  A home that is filled with hope, peace, joy and love … I can live with that. 

~Ellen Bennett