Advent offers more than a slippery slope to Christmas: it’s an opportunity to welcome
the Christ child anew
This article is written for and in conjunction with the Wagga Wagga Together Paper December Edition
I hear those sleigh bells jingling – I don’t of course, but I am having a little bit of difficulty
explaining the concept of an Australian Christmas to a perceptive preschooler who keeps
telling me that it will snow for Christmas.
Thank you mass commercialisation for your help there…I know I’m not the only one who
laments the fact that Christmas marketing and merchandise has been readily available and
well, prominently displayed, since Father’s Day.
Then again, I also feel sorry for those who don’t understand that Christmas celebrations last
for at least an Octave, and well into the New Year. If we’re going to celebrate the birth of Our
Lord and Saviour we should at least attempt to do it well.
So, where to start?
Liturgical living starts at home
Advent wreaths, candles and calendars may not have quite the attraction of the bells, lights
and baubles of the shopping centre Christmas displays, but that’s the point.
Advent, one of the two ‘purple’ seasons of the Church’s year, is a time of preparation not of
celebration. Yes, we can look forward to Christmas, to celebrating with family and friends, to
Midnight Masses and Christmas carolling. But to celebrate Christmas in Advent is like having
dessert before dinner.
There are numerous ways to prayerfully journey through Advent at home. The Jesse Tree
remains a favourite for many families, newer traditions like the names of Jesus Advent
calendar or Mary on the Mantle are gaining followers, and other devotions including the O
Antiphons have also been making a resurgence.
Apps like Hallow and many excellent podcasters offer Advent reflections, homilies and
activities for the preparatory season. A note to the wise though, don’t go too hard all at once.
Advent traditions can be updated or refreshed and built upon each year. Start small with a
long term goal of creating liturgical traditions for your family.
Save Christmas for Christmas
Resist the urge to get too into Christmas just now. I know, I know. Christmas parties, carols
in shopping centres, and the big man in red smiling for photos with slightly scared children,
Christmas marketing is everywhere.
This can be confusing, and not just for our children. Try to find time to recollect and prepare
spiritually for Christmas. Yes, the never-ending December checklist is overwhelming. But do
we need to tick every item on that list?
What does Christmas mean to us, and how should we best apply our capacity? After the
spiritual reality of welcoming the Christ child, what is our next priority?
Conversely, what are some Christmas themed events or activities that we might normally do
that don’t enhance our capacity to welcome Christ?
There’s not a right or wrong way to ‘do’ Christmas. But a little discernment goes a long way
at this time of year.
On behalf of the Virtue Ministry team, we hope you encounter anew baby Jesus in the
Manger this Christmas. We pray that our Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, will come into your
hearts and enrich your capacity to be all you were created to be.
