Posted on 12/05/2006 6:16:18 PM PST by sionnsar
Advent: a season for scrooges and spoil-sports? Or, a season of godly preparation for a most Merry and Holy Christmastide?
As your blogger writes this, no doubt people are already sending out Christmas cards and listening to Christmas Carols 24/7 on the stereo. Admittedly, one needs to get his Christmas Greeting Cards out early in order to avoid the rush at the Post Office, and hopefully to find Christmas Stamps still available and not Sold Out!
Never-the-less, your Blogger believes that it would not actually hurt anyone to recieve their Christmas Card after Christmas Eve/Day. Remember, that there are TWELVE DAYS of Christmas lasting through the Feasts of St. Stephen, St. John, Holy Innocents…until The Epiphany on January 6.
O, that more Churchmen truly celebrated this part of our heritage!
Of course, this does not take away from the ‘REALITY’ that our secularized culture will already have exhausted itself by celebrating its own unholy version of ‘christmas’ (consisting mindless greed and commerce, accompanied by the ‘cha-ching’ of cash registers) long before that time!
Our world wants to celebrate “christmas", but it would like to conveniently skip out on ADVENT, for that is far too penitential a Season of preparation, and it reminds us of Jesus Christ and that he promised a SECOND COMING, which makes us feel uncomfortable. We want to CELEBRATE, but NEVER, EVER, feel a sense of godly fear, repentance, discipline and preparation! God forbid that this thought should enter into and SPOIL our orgiastic shopping sprees.
Your Blogger would like you to be mindful of the fact that there can be no Celebration without Preparation....
So, Blessed Advent, Everyone!
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. So let us, on this eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, remember that now is the time to joyfully prepare for the coming of our Lord. Let us put on the Armor of Light. And let us contemplate the wonder and Mystery of the Incarnation.
We can do all that with or without a few lights and songs.
2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.
3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.
4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.
5. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
- Eleanor Farjeon
Learn something every day.
Not to sound trite, but we need a good Advent greeting to reply when someone wishes us Happy Holidays.
"Happy Advent" does not seem to capture the essence of preparation. Perhaps "Holy Advent"?
"Blessed Advent"? Methinks we're a bit late on this one...
""Blessed Advent"? Methinks we're a bit late on this one..."
Very good greeting, or you could say, "A Blessed Nativity Fast to you", but that might sound really odd to "Anglos". In any event, better late than never!
OK, maybe it's a bit early, but it's never too soon to get in the spirit of things.
And a happy, belated, St. Nicholas Day to all.
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