As we light the first Advent candle this weekend, the real countdown to Christmas begins! Sure, the TV movies, Christmas songs on the radio, and decorating have already started, but the first Sunday of Advent makes the season official from a Christian perspective. And it’s always interesting to read what insights different people bring to the days leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
For instance, during Advent a couple of years ago, Christopher Award-winning author Amy Julia Becker took to her social media accounts to explore two Biblical figures’ very different responses to the news of Jesus’ coming. Becker wrote, “When Mary hears the message that she has been chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, Luke tells us she was ‘troubled.’ When King Herod hears from the three magi that Jesus has been born, Matthew tells us he was ‘troubled.’ The news that Jesus is coming disrupts their lives.”
“Herod responds with denial and violence,” Becker continued. “Mary responds with surrender and acceptance and receptivity. The news of God’s love entering our world disrupts our expectations. It challenges us. It proclaims our belovedness apart from our achievements or worth. It exposes injustice. The news of God’s love entering the world invites us to healing and freedom. It threatens us with radical acceptance and grace. God’s love is a holy disruption that might trouble us deeply. How will we respond?”
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While we may think of Lent as a greater season of “holy disruption,” Advent can play a similar role in taking us out of ourselves to think more about loving God and neighbor. In fact, if you search for one online, you might find “Advent of Kindness” calendars to help you do just that—or you could create one of your own. Some suggestions:
While waiting on line in a store, allow someone to go in front of you. Get in touch with an old friend or relative whom you’ve lost contact with; if you had a disagreement with that person, try your best to make peace. Write a thank you note to someone, and express gratitude to anyone who helps you in the course of your day. Bake Christmas cookies for a neighbor or offer to help put up decorations if they’re unable to do so themselves. Give a meal to someone who is hungry. Learn about another person whose life or beliefs are different from yours and see if you can find some commonality. Pray—and work—to be more like Jesus, serving others with love.
Advent is also the perfect time to take part in opportunities for joy and community. That’s part of the reason Jen Sawyer has attended Fordham University’s annual Festival of Lessons and Carols for the past 20 years. Writing at Jesuits.org, Sawyer describes a scene in which a female soloist, holding a single candle in the darkened church, begins singing, “Once in royal David’s city.” The choir then joins in, “as the flame from the single candle is passed from choir member to choir member until the once-dark church is fully illuminated by candlelight.” This experience always resonates with Sawyer. She writes, “I listened attentively to the scriptural lessons and reflections, sang my heart out with my friends, and realized I was part of a community coming together in prayer and song to welcome Christ into our hearts.”
This Advent, may each of us find our own way to make the season meaningful and fulfilling.
For free copies of the Christopher News Note Imitating Christ’s Humility, write: The Christophers, 264 West 40th Street, Room 603, New York, NY 10018; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org
Perspectives on Advent #Catholic –
As we light the first Advent candle this weekend, the real countdown to Christmas begins! Sure, the TV movies, Christmas songs on the radio, and decorating have already started, but the first Sunday of Advent makes the season official from a Christian perspective. And it’s always interesting to read what insights different people bring to the days leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
For instance, during Advent a couple of years ago, Christopher Award-winning author Amy Julia Becker took to her social media accounts to explore two Biblical figures’ very different responses to the news of Jesus’ coming. Becker wrote, “When Mary hears the message that she has been chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, Luke tells us she was ‘troubled.’ When King Herod hears from the three magi that Jesus has been born, Matthew tells us he was ‘troubled.’ The news that Jesus is coming disrupts their lives.”
“Herod responds with denial and violence,” Becker continued. “Mary responds with surrender and acceptance and receptivity. The news of God’s love entering our world disrupts our expectations. It challenges us. It proclaims our belovedness apart from our achievements or worth. It exposes injustice. The news of God’s love entering the world invites us to healing and freedom. It threatens us with radical acceptance and grace. God’s love is a holy disruption that might trouble us deeply. How will we respond?”
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
While we may think of Lent as a greater season of “holy disruption,” Advent can play a similar role in taking us out of ourselves to think more about loving God and neighbor. In fact, if you search for one online, you might find “Advent of Kindness” calendars to help you do just that—or you could create one of your own. Some suggestions:
While waiting on line in a store, allow someone to go in front of you. Get in touch with an old friend or relative whom you’ve lost contact with; if you had a disagreement with that person, try your best to make peace. Write a thank you note to someone, and express gratitude to anyone who helps you in the course of your day. Bake Christmas cookies for a neighbor or offer to help put up decorations if they’re unable to do so themselves. Give a meal to someone who is hungry. Learn about another person whose life or beliefs are different from yours and see if you can find some commonality. Pray—and work—to be more like Jesus, serving others with love.
Advent is also the perfect time to take part in opportunities for joy and community. That’s part of the reason Jen Sawyer has attended Fordham University’s annual Festival of Lessons and Carols for the past 20 years. Writing at Jesuits.org, Sawyer describes a scene in which a female soloist, holding a single candle in the darkened church, begins singing, “Once in royal David’s city.” The choir then joins in, “as the flame from the single candle is passed from choir member to choir member until the once-dark church is fully illuminated by candlelight.” This experience always resonates with Sawyer. She writes, “I listened attentively to the scriptural lessons and reflections, sang my heart out with my friends, and realized I was part of a community coming together in prayer and song to welcome Christ into our hearts.”
This Advent, may each of us find our own way to make the season meaningful and fulfilling.
For free copies of the Christopher News Note Imitating Christ’s Humility, write: The Christophers, 264 West 40th Street, Room 603, New York, NY 10018; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org