O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel

Advent and the Obliteration of the Mundane Holiday

   The day after Christmas 2010, I came to a depressing and paralyzing thought: Had Christmas become mundane to me? It had all come and gone so quickly like any other month. It was like I was just re-winding the same parties and the same dinners and the same services with no extraordinary joys or memories. This had been my favorite time of year from the beginning of my consciousness to the most recent years of my adulthood. What was going on? I found it hard to believe that I may have already digressed into an old fogey who couldn’t appreciate extraneous events and trappings without feeling slightly agitated with the break of routine. I may be bitter and jaded toward some things but surely not Christmas, right? Had I sung ‘O come, O come’ so many times now that I wish it was gone?

   After I got over my pity party, I decided on a call to action. I have been a manager for decades now so when I see a problem, I analyze it and devise a solution. Also, having been involved with sports for the better part of my first thirty years, one thing my coaches emphasized to me time and time again was that preparation for the big game was every bit as important as the big game itself. So I used this two-prong approach (management and coaching) to evaluate my Holiday Bummer of 2010. What I found was this: I had poorly prepared for the big game. Advent is the preparation. The Advent season is the time of hope and repentance and prayer and anticipation and longing and praise. I had done some of those things, but not all of them, and none of them with great conviction. I had read a few Advent devotions, but only on my own, not with the family. I had attended a few mid-week Advent services. I did not make or purchase an Advent wreath. I did not make or purchase an Advent calendar. A quick review of my checkbook revealed that I had not made one donation to the poor during the Advent season. I did not make Christ, his presence and his forthcoming, the primary focus of my Advent season; thus, the secular celebrations came and went and my Christmas pie was half-baked.

   This year, I shall do the following:

1. Make/purchase Advent wreath and display it on kitchen table, daily
2. Make/purchase Advent calendar and display it in obvious home viewing area, daily
3. Read Advent devotions with an emphasis on family participation, daily
4. Donate money to the poor/donate time to the poor
5. Attend all mid-week Advent services and reflect on message afterwards
6. Keep Christ in mind while attending every party, concert, dinner, shopping outing…as he is the reason for the season.

   Am I putting too much pressure on myself? Maybe…but Christmas is a big event in the Christian life. If you want to be the star in heaven that God intended you to be, and for which Christ has already paid your admission ticket, you have to do the preparation. Of course, humans do get themselves in trouble when they think they can do everything themselves so if all else fails, I can just get on my knees and pray.

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:1 kjv).

Dear Heavenly Father, Guide us to revere the coming of your Son this Advent season as we joyfully anticipate the Star of Bethlehem. Amen
 

Contributed by Donald
Monday November 28, 2011
Liturgical Year B: Week 27
Liturgical Color: Blue
Sunday Gospel reading:
First Sunday of Advent