As a kid growing up in Kansas City, Thanksgiving was a memorable day. There was, of course, football and the traditional Thanksgiving dinner that my mother would so lovingly prepare. But, that evening we would go with tens of thousands of other Kansas Citians and visitors to the Country Club Plaza to count down the moments before the lighting of the dazzling holiday lights that outline each of the beautiful Spanish-style buildings in that part of town. It has been a tradition in Kansas City for decades. It marked the beginning of the holiday season.
Often overlooked, even in a Catholic home like ours, this weekend also marked the beginning of Advent. It’s hard for Advent to compete with the hustle and frenzy of the secular holiday season.
In the simple beauty and dignity of its liturgy and customs, however, Advent is one of the richest seasons of the year. The prayers and readings at Mass as well as the hymns and antiphons of the Liturgy of the Hours invite us to a quiet reflection that deepens our sense of longing as we prepare to welcome the King who comes to save us.
Advent is a season with memorable rituals and traditions for the home as well. We had the Jesse tree in our home. Lighting the candles of the Advent wreath can be the occasion to gather the family for a moment of prayer. The child’s anticipation and joy upon opening each door or window of an Advent calendar reminds us why the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who become like little children.
Precisely because the season of Advent is characterized by quiet waiting and unhurried preparation it is easily lost in the noise and frenzy of the commercial “holiday season.” “Black Friday” has now become “Black Thursday.” We don’t even wait until the Thanksgiving dishes are washed and put away before the shopping frenzy begins. (Actually, it begins long before Thanksgiving due to the “advent” of online shopping!)
The pressures of shopping for that perfect gift, the rounds of parties, decorating and travel create a level of stress and busyness that is anything but reflective. No wonder so many people experience exhaustion or letdown when Christmas finally arrives.
It is a pitiful and telling symptom that so many Christmas trees are already stripped and littering the curb and landfills on the day after Christmas. Was it only about the presents? The “shopping season” may be over but the real feast of Christmas is just beginning on Dec. 25.
As Catholics we celebrate the octave day of Christmas on Jan. 1 by honoring Mary, the Mother of God. The Christmas season will reach its climax with the feast of Epiphany when we celebrate the manifestation of the newborn King to the nations with the coming of the Magi. Sadly, the real liturgical Christmas season has been eliminated in our culture just as Advent has been replaced by a commercial substitute.
What can we do? We can let Advent be Advent. And let Christmas be Christmas.
For such a great feast as Christmas we need the weeks of Advent to prepare ourselves properly. We need the weeks of Advent to ponder God’s age-old promises and to experience the longing of those patriarchs and prophets that still finds an echo in our own hearts today. It is the longing that cries out, “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!”
The word Advent means “coming.” During Advent, we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s coming in history when he was born as a child in Bethlehem. We also prepare for his coming again in glory when he will judge the nations and turn over the Kingdom to his heavenly Father. But, there also is the Lord’s hidden coming to us in the mystery of his grace, his sacraments and his providence each day.
Christmas is not just a nostalgic remembering of an event that occurred in a faraway place a long time ago. By remembering and pondering the mysteries leading up to and surrounding the birth of Jesus, the Spirit opens our hearts to experience his coming as something new for us! Jesus Christ was born to bring salvation into our own world, and to bring joy and hope to our hearts today!
He comes to renew a wounded world grown old in sin and to make all things new. The grace of Advent invites us to experience his coming with new hearts, as if, perhaps, for the first time. The Lord comes to us in this hidden way through his holy word. He comes especially through the celebration of the sacraments by which he communicates his gift of salvation to each of us.
Advent reminds us that there is much more going on here than getting and spending. There is real reason for rejoicing. God is with us. Today!