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Rediscovering Advent:
Odds are that at this very moment you’re
surrounded or even bombarded by the sights and sounds of a modern
Christmas. As early as the first week in November, some radio stations
embraced an all Christmas song format that includes such “classics” as
“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and the Singing Dogs’ version of
“Jingle Bells.” Newspaper flyers and television commercials have been
alerting you to the “must buys” of the season. Add to all this the
places you have to be: choir practices, committee meetings, food drives.
And then there’s the endless ringing of the bells. Driving across town,
it seems like Santa and his elves are everywhere.
Like a hungry monster in a 1950s horror film, Christmas seems to be stalking you, all the while looking for new ways to consume your time, energy, spirit, and money. No wonder many people get so overcome with the anxiety of the season that they try to hide from all things associated with Yuletide.
As we look to the next twenty five days and think about how to get the most substance and joy out of the holidays, we’ll ex plore ways to restore the real message of Christmas. We’ll begin our exploration by taking a look at one of the season’s earliest traditions, which began long before the arrival of commercialization. By knowing and embracing the original concept of Advent, we power through the modern craziness and find the true spiritual aspects of the holiday. We discover the spiritual depth that comes from knowing the real reason this all began.
For many, Advent is a foreign concept. They have heard of it and associate it with the Christmas season, but they don’t know what it means. Even most Christians don’t know the meaning of Advent or how it ties in to the holidays. This lack of understanding is not only true for those who don’t attend church; it’s true for millions who never miss Sunday services. Many denominations simply do not recognize this sacred Christian tradition. Others fail to explain Advent in ways that bring meaningful spiritual understanding to this custom. Yet to experience a rich and meaningful Christmas, it helps to understand and truly embrace Advent.
Let’s take a look at why the meaning of Advent has been lost for so many. Before 1940 the retail holiday season was relatively short. Many people didn’t even think about Christmas until around December 20. A great deal of the shopping and almost all the decorating were done on Christmas Eve. What transformed this time honored week of Christmas into a full six week holiday experience was World War II. With millions of Americans fighting the war in foreign lands that lay beyond two oceans, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked folks to shop and mail their gifts early. To ensure that loved ones overseas received their packages by Christmas, these parcels were to be given to mailmen no later than the first week in December. Thus, in 1942 the Christmas rush began before Thanksgiving.
Four years later, after the war ended, the mold was cast. Christmas had grown into more than a month of sales, songs, and entertainment. It was great for stores and, on the surface, seemed enjoyable for most people. Yet lost in this merriment were time honored church traditions. Buried the deepest was Advent. Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on this tradition of Advent and embrace it as originally intended. If you’re looking for a way to put the real reason (as well as a lot of joy) back into your holiday season, it’s time to bone up on some powerful and meaningful historical Christian teachings.
Advent is a Latin word meaning “the coming.” The Christmas tie-in to Advent dates back to the sixth century, when church leaders dedicated a special time to properly focus men, women, and children on the real meaning of Christ’s birth and life. This was a part of the holiday that was supposed to be packed with great spiritual revelation, a road map people were to follow all the way to the manger. During the Dark Ages, millions treasured the joy found in Advent. In our modern commercial world, with all of its distractions, this kind of contemplation would seem to be more important than ever. Hence, the information age is the perfect time to go back to the roots of Advent.
In the beginning, Advent started on the Sunday closest to November 30 and ran until Christmas Eve. Essentially, the church leaders of the day set aside four weeks to consider what the coming of Jesus meant not only to the world but also to every individual’s soul. Though it was promoted by the church, Advent was meant to be a time of personal retrospect and growth for each believer. So if you’ve found yourself complaining that the real meaning of the season has been lost in the noise of jingling cash registers, it’s time to take a second look at the quiet peace found in experiencing a real Advent.
A Shortcut to the Spirit of the Season
The gospel of Luke has twenty four chapters. Read one chapter a day during December, using this study as a biblical Advent calendar that puts your focus on the birth, life, and promise of Christ.
Like a hungry monster in a 1950s horror film, Christmas seems to be stalking you, all the while looking for new ways to consume your time, energy, spirit, and money. No wonder many people get so overcome with the anxiety of the season that they try to hide from all things associated with Yuletide.
As we look to the next twenty five days and think about how to get the most substance and joy out of the holidays, we’ll ex plore ways to restore the real message of Christmas. We’ll begin our exploration by taking a look at one of the season’s earliest traditions, which began long before the arrival of commercialization. By knowing and embracing the original concept of Advent, we power through the modern craziness and find the true spiritual aspects of the holiday. We discover the spiritual depth that comes from knowing the real reason this all began.
For many, Advent is a foreign concept. They have heard of it and associate it with the Christmas season, but they don’t know what it means. Even most Christians don’t know the meaning of Advent or how it ties in to the holidays. This lack of understanding is not only true for those who don’t attend church; it’s true for millions who never miss Sunday services. Many denominations simply do not recognize this sacred Christian tradition. Others fail to explain Advent in ways that bring meaningful spiritual understanding to this custom. Yet to experience a rich and meaningful Christmas, it helps to understand and truly embrace Advent.
Let’s take a look at why the meaning of Advent has been lost for so many. Before 1940 the retail holiday season was relatively short. Many people didn’t even think about Christmas until around December 20. A great deal of the shopping and almost all the decorating were done on Christmas Eve. What transformed this time honored week of Christmas into a full six week holiday experience was World War II. With millions of Americans fighting the war in foreign lands that lay beyond two oceans, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked folks to shop and mail their gifts early. To ensure that loved ones overseas received their packages by Christmas, these parcels were to be given to mailmen no later than the first week in December. Thus, in 1942 the Christmas rush began before Thanksgiving.
Four years later, after the war ended, the mold was cast. Christmas had grown into more than a month of sales, songs, and entertainment. It was great for stores and, on the surface, seemed enjoyable for most people. Yet lost in this merriment were time honored church traditions. Buried the deepest was Advent. Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on this tradition of Advent and embrace it as originally intended. If you’re looking for a way to put the real reason (as well as a lot of joy) back into your holiday season, it’s time to bone up on some powerful and meaningful historical Christian teachings.
Advent is a Latin word meaning “the coming.” The Christmas tie-in to Advent dates back to the sixth century, when church leaders dedicated a special time to properly focus men, women, and children on the real meaning of Christ’s birth and life. This was a part of the holiday that was supposed to be packed with great spiritual revelation, a road map people were to follow all the way to the manger. During the Dark Ages, millions treasured the joy found in Advent. In our modern commercial world, with all of its distractions, this kind of contemplation would seem to be more important than ever. Hence, the information age is the perfect time to go back to the roots of Advent.
In the beginning, Advent started on the Sunday closest to November 30 and ran until Christmas Eve. Essentially, the church leaders of the day set aside four weeks to consider what the coming of Jesus meant not only to the world but also to every individual’s soul. Though it was promoted by the church, Advent was meant to be a time of personal retrospect and growth for each believer. So if you’ve found yourself complaining that the real meaning of the season has been lost in the noise of jingling cash registers, it’s time to take a second look at the quiet peace found in experiencing a real Advent.
- Reflect on what it means for God to come to earth in human form as a baby. We see the baby Jesus everywhere during this time of year, but do we think of God when we think about that infant? Even at Christmas, many never stop to consider the miracle of God loving his children Consider this fact: no one has ever changed the world in such a lasting way as did Jesus. Reflecting on how different everything is because of his life and teachings should make anyone want to honor his birthday. After you have meditated on the historic impact of Christ for a few moments, add his divinity to the equation. Billions of children have been born, but there has never been another like this one child. That alone gives you a new and fuller perspective of the holiday and is a powerful reason to celebrate Christmas.
- Consider how accepting Jesus as Savior changed your very existence. For just a few minutes think beyond Jesus’ birth and consider his life. Think about what he said and did. Consider the power and influence of Jesus’ life on your actions, your thinking, and your faith. When you realize that because of a child born in a manger, you have experienced a dramatic life change-you act differently, are more compassionate-you should then want to fully enjoy this year’s holiday season. Just thinking about Christ’s life should motivate you to want to put his teachings into practice as a way of celebrating the day of his birth.
- Know that Jesus is coming back. While the second coming used to be an important facet of each Christian holiday, it is no longer a part of Advent. That’s why it’s important to consider what Jesus would think if he spent some time with you during this holiday season. Would he see your excitement in the way you greet others? As he observes you preparing for the special day, would he recognize your faith in the way you reach out to others? Would he see you living out his commandments to reach out to the least of these? Jesus is coming back, but we don’t know when that will happen. So what we need to keep in mind is this: if he were to return today, would he see himself in us this Christmas? If you live each day of the holiday season carrying the spirit of Jesus in your heart and reflecting his compassion, your days will be truly joyful from now through Christmas and well beyond. By embracing this living concept, you lift up others with your smile, your energy, and your joy. One of the holiday’s most beloved carols is “The First Noel.” This song reminds us to look back at the beginning of the Christmas holiday and focus on what that first Christmas means to us and to the world. Noel can be translated as a loud and triumphal greeting that trumpets our great joy and faith. Thus, each moment of Advent, each day of it, is a time to remind ourselves what a miraculous thing happened when the babe was born in Bethlehem. And we need to remember that it happened not just to Mary and Joseph, a few wise men, and some shepherd; it happened to us too. Right now, with your length “to do” list, you might feel as though Christmas is too much to handle. But if you will focus on the three original lessons found in the historical Advent, you will not only successfully navigate the next few weeks but also enjoy them as you never have before. Advent, in its original form, remains a strong foundation for engaging the spiritual aspects of the holiday. It’s the perfect way for you to begin to experience the full joy of the Christmas season.
A Shortcut to the Spirit of the Season
The gospel of Luke has twenty four chapters. Read one chapter a day during December, using this study as a biblical Advent calendar that puts your focus on the birth, life, and promise of Christ.
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