Advent (from the
Latin adventus: coming) is the first Season of the Christian year, a
tradition dating to the 6th Century. Not intended as a period of excessive
busyness, Advent solemnly and expectantly prepares us for The Nativity of
Our Lord Jesus Christ: Christmas Day - the birth of God's Divine Word in
human history. We are advised to pace ourselves carefully as we plan for
Christ's annual coming on Christmas Day, for his profound reentry within our
hearts and minds, and for his eventual "Second Coming" as Judge. Advent also
serves as an opportunity for each of us to contemplate our readiness for death
- when we will account to God for the stewardship of our lives. Christmas
celebrations are, for Christians, appropriately held during the "twelve days of
Christmas," the period between Christmas Day and the Feast of the Epiphany.
Whether one says, exhausted, after Christmas, "Thanks heaven that's over for
another year!" will depend upon one's choices for the Advent Season. May we
fashion a holy Advent and a blessed Christmas! [Regrettably, churches often
contribute to the frenzied pace of this solemn season by scheduling too many
parish activities. As one churchman has said, “There are two places that I
avoid during Advent: shopping malls and churches!”]