Advent: What Are You Getting Ready For?

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. In the Christian church calendar, Advent is the “season” when we get ready for Christmas. In most Christian traditions, Advent has a dual meaning: we remember the first Christmas when Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the three kings awaited and rejoiced at the birth of Christ, while we also await and prepare for Jesus’ promised return.

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Last week our priest dove deeper into the meaning of Advent, starting early to get us ready to get ready. She emphasized the difference between getting ready for Christmas, and getting ready to enter the mystery of Christmas. (You can read her full sermon on her blog.)

While getting ready for Christmas can mean stressful, hectic days filled with shopping, wrapping, decorating, and baking (fueled by too many cookies and too much egg nog), getting ready to enter the mystery of Christmas can mean taking the time to reflect on the miracle of that Holy Night, when the Christ Child came to live among us and teach us by Word and example the incomprehensible reach of God’s unfailing Love.

Getting ready to enter the mystery of Christmas can mean thinking about the prophets who predicted the Messiah’s coming centuries in advance, and the people who didn’t lose their faith as time marched on without a Saviour.

Getting ready to enter the mystery of Christmas can mean thinking about Mary and Joseph, and their bravery in accepting their roles in the Christmas story.

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Getting ready to enter the mystery of Christmas can mean thinking about the apostles, other disciples, and early Christians who spread the Gospel at the risk of life and limb.

Getting ready to enter the mystery of Christmas can mean figuring out how we can share God’s love with those around us–whether family, friends, neighbors or strangers.

(participants in our school sandwich making service project)

Getting ready to enter the mystery of Christmas can mean tailoring our own celebrations so that the mystery of Christmas does not get overshadowed by the glitter of Christmas.

(our dazzling white Christmas tree)

What are you getting ready for?

Prayer for the first week of Advent
The light of God lead us and make us unafraid.
The power of God protect us and make us strong.
The joy of God heal us and make us happy.
The grace of God bless us and keep us loving.
Now and evermore.
Amen