Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The word “advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus” which means “arrival.” So we are waiting for the arrival of Jesus. And for over two thousand years, He’s never stood us up. He always comes.
Did you know that we, in modern times, approach the holiday season a little differently than they did hundreds of years ago? We jump into a frenzy of activity right after Thanksgiving, if not before, spending, decorating, baking, going to programs and concerts, gathering with family and friends. By the time Christmas comes, we’re tuckered out and it’s almost a relief to have a few days of quiet recovery before the new year starts.
In days of old, that was switched. Advent was a quiet time of prayerful contemplation, spiritual preparation, and fasting. It wasn’t until Christmas Day that the celebration part actually kicked off, which then lasted 12 glorious days, full of feasting and gift-giving.
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” may be the most annoying holiday song, but the idea has roots in the early church. In 567, the Council of Tours “proclaimed the twelve days of Christmas as a sacred and festive season, and established the duty of Advent fasting in preparation for the feast.”
Would you do something a bit counter-cultural with me? Would you sit quietly for a few minutes every day leading up to Christmas? Don’t be afraid of the silence, and don’t worry about all the things on your to-do list. Let’s learn to wait well, so when Jesus arrives we can celebrate with hearts fully prepared.
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I usually keep Christmas until after J6, which is the 12th day. I will certainly take moments of my days for quiet for Jesus. What do You think, LORD? God bless your waiting also, Dinah.
I like to leave things out for a while, too. January needs some pretty decor and lights. Blessings on you and Jim!
Thankyou for these wonderful devotions Dinah!!!
Such an easy reminder to sit quietly. Thank you for permission….especially as it comes
to contemplation time
for our King
Good call!
M
Blessings on you and your family, Mary!
Thank you for this reminder of the truth and of how far our culture has strayed. I long for a community where the truth of our faith can reliably be practiced. I can work in my own life to develop such a culture, and it will require a little more self-control than my usual adherance to charcuterie, chocolates and cheer. God willing I’ll keep up with my 30-min minnimum of silent prayer and I’ll plan a fast for tomorrow. We’ll see where we go from there.
How do you imagine we ought to generate a culture of quite, wakefull waiting without snubbing those who choose to celebrate early while believing they’re practicing the faith reliably? How do we communicate the need for change in a manner that is both humble and gentle and yet do so without compromising the truth?
Those are excellent questions! I pray God will show you the answers. We all have small circles of influence — that’s a good place to start.
I celebrate Christmas by gathering with family to strengthen ties of brotherhood.
No unnecessary Christmas shopping. Maybe all the sales managers don’t like me. LOL