Advent is an underappreciated season among Christians. The world around us is rushing headlong into celebrating Christmas, which can make this a very stressful time of year. As I wrote in the November 29 issue of FaithLink:* “It is a time to buy and wrap presents, bake batch after batch of cookies, attend office Christmas parties, send dozens of Christmas cards, and do everything possible to make Christmas special. In all the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas, this time of year can feel like one task after another. Christmas can turn into a big chore. In all the rush to prepare for Christmas, at times we forget the most important preparation of all: spiritual preparation. We run the risk of forgetting the significance of Christmas and missing out on its true joy.”
“Advent was created to help Christians prepare for the coming of Christ. Almost 900 years ago, Bernard of Clairvaux said that during Advent we commemorate Christ’s coming in three ways: his first coming in human flesh as a baby born in Bethlehem, his future coming on a day and an hour presently unknown to us, and his present coming into the hearts of believers through faith.”
Advent is ideally observed both at church and at home, including sharing every day celebrations around the dining table. So what are your Advent traditions that help you prepare for the coming of Christ? Please share your ideas, and include your name and your hometown so you can be properly acknowledged for your contribution.
*I am honored to be on the writing team for FaithLink: Connecting Faith and Life. FaithLink is published by Cokesbury and is available by subscription via e-mail (from subservice@abingdonpress.com) or fax (call 800-672-1789) or by downloading from the Web at cokesbury.com/faithlink.
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