“Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush.”
Anonymous
Today is the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day which officially marks the start of the Advent season for many Christians. This is the time of the year when we quiet our hearts and prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
One of the most common traditions is the lighting of the Advent wreath, which typically consists of four candles, with a new candle being lit on each Sunday of Advent. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the increasing light of Christ shining into the world as Christmas approaches. In some traditions, each candle represents themes such as hope, peace, joy and love. Each week of Advent focuses on one of these themes, providing an opportunity for believers to meditate on the significance of each aspect in their lives. I have my Advent wreath ready. My mom gave me a beautiful, heavy pewter base, and it is always one of the first decorations I prepare. Three purple candles, a pink one, and a larger white one to represent the Christ candle. I have a greenery around the base.
A friend sends an Advent calendar with her Christmas card, something I look forward to every year. Each day gives a sentence or two of contemplation or an activity as we count down till Christmas Day.
For example, December 3rd states, “Today’s Collect asks that we cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. What does that armor look like for you in this Advent season?”
I mean, what a fantastic question. What does the armor of light look like for me in this Christmas season?
We each carry within us a spiritual light of God. I was praying the other day that I would truly slow down and allow myself to savor the holiday season. While Advent offers a counter-cultural invitation to slow down and embrace a spirit of contemplation and preparation, I instead find myself rushing through the season. I dash around the crowded shopping centers for the perfect gifts and then I am swallowed up by the reds, greens and gold of the wrapping paper as I attempt to wrap them all. Our family rushes from one social event to another as well as to any additional church activities.
The anticipation and waiting during Advent are meant to cultivate a sense of longing and readiness for the coming of Christ, fostering a deeper spiritual connection with God. This is my aim this year.
My armor of light will be more peace and quiet in prayer and meditation each day. I desire to spend more time with loved ones and continue to treat friends and family with kindness and respect. I plan to donate to charity or other special causes. I hope to simplify my schedule and allow myself downtime to recover. I will practice self-care. I won’t be perfect, and I’ll have to remind myself to slow down, but that’s okay.
What could the armor of light look like for you in this Christmas season? What ways in the hurriedness of this season could you slow down, focus, and rest? What traditions or spiritual practices do you hold close this time of year?
“In this day, this season, miracles will grow within, unfurl, bear fruit. And the heart that makes time and space for Him to come will be a glorious place. A place of sheer, radiant defiance in the face of a world careening mad and stressed. Because each day of Advent, we will actively wait. We will wait knowing that the remaking of everything has already begun.”
Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift
More Information:
My business site: Sacred Journey – Thought, Word & Deed (katierea.com)
What is Advent? 2023 Guide to Meaning, History, Traditions (christianity.com)
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