The Season of Advent
The Christmas lights in Canterbury were switched on last Friday and the Christmas Market stalls are now up and in full swing. While having a coffee in a cafe the other day, I heard an elderly gentlemen telling his companions: ‘Christmas doesn’t do anything for me but it’s good for the grandchildren.’ We all have our own ways of dealing with the demands of Christmas. For many it produces its own stress.
Next Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King and the end of the Liturgical year; then the first day of December is the time of Advent and the beginning of the new Liturgical year. Advent consists of just 24 days. I would encourage you to allow the rhythm of the Liturgical Cycle to lead you to a prayerful time in the next few weeks.
The season consist of three themes. It is a time of waiting for the coming of Jesus as Lord of History and universal judge. For us it is the time of conversion, when we heed John the Baptist’s cry: Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. And it is a time of joyful hope that the salvation already accomplished by Jesus — the reality of grace in the world — will come to maturity and reach its fullness. St Paul says,
‘For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.’
You will find in the Narthex of the church copies of Walk with Me: A Journey of Prayer for Advent (£1) and also My Day by Day Advent 2024 (£1). They are aids for us to reflect on the daily readings as part of our preparation.
There are also useful Advent booklets in the shop, that can be a guide to reflection and prayer. The Spirituality Commission of our Diocese will be sending daily reflections during Advent featuring Scripture, thoughts and prayers. You can sign-up here to receive them directly to your inbox each morning.
At home, we could think about constructing a simple Advent wreath and lighting a candle each Sunday at the family meal.
It’s important to remember that it is impossible to celebrate our Lord’s birth except in an atmosphere of sobriety and joyful simplicity, and of concern for the poor and marginalised. The expectation of the Lord’s birth makes us sensitive to the value of life and to our duties to respect and defend it from the moment of conception.
God of Love, Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us. He is a sign of your love. Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent as we wait and prepare for his coming. We pray in the name of Jesus, our Saviour. Amen.
