First Sunday

Today is the first Sunday of Advent.  Advent has four Sundays.  The fourth and last Sunday of Advent this year is Christmas Eve.  Many persons celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, which for all intents and purposes can render the last Sunday of Advent meaningless.  The idea of Advent is to take time for prayer and reflection in celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ.  Fr. Eric Hollis, OSB after writing about how differently Advent can be viewed, and practiced, followed that discussion with this sentence:  “But for the lucky ones Advent will be a time of renewal that reminds us of an inner transcendence that we all share.”   

Advent Wreath

It is ever increasing that Christmas is no longer a Christian holiday in much of the West.  It has become, like Easter,  more a secular than a religious holiday.  The old saying used to be that Church parking lots were full only on Christmas and Easter, but in some denominations that is no longer the case.  As the national overall numbers and percentage of Nones (those with no religion) increase  so too will the religious nature of the holiday continue to decrease.  For example, today while driving in to and from Madison for some Christmas shopping, the radio station had Christmas music playing, but I heard not one song with even a hint of a religious theme.  The effects of are harried Christmas can also be seen in the comics, as two photos from today's Sunday newspaper attest.  As secularization continues to occur at some point the religious nature of this day will be recalled only through old texts and old hymns.  No longer recognized for its original intent, it will have a new meaning of a day devoted to the consumer culture.  Christians may be back to worshiping in what will be a modern day version of a catacomb.  Yet,  Christmas is actually going full circle; after all long before Christmas there were pagan celebrations. 

Earth Rotation around Sun

No one on earth really knows the actual date of Christ’s birth.  Early Christians tied their celebrations to past Roman events, and in this situation placed Christmas near the Winter Solstice.  First celebrated on December 25 in the fourth century (336 AD) under the reign of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of the Roman Empire, the purpose was to tie the holiday to common pre-Christian festival times.  The festival of Saturnalia, in honor of Saturn the god of agriculture, would be a one month long Roman celebration in the month of December.  Also during a similar time was a Roman festival to honor children.  As an aside, I once recall my youngest sibling asking our Mom why their is no Children's Day...to which she replied "Everyday is children's day." The Romans must have thought otherwise.  Christmas would become permanently celebrated on December 25 by action of Pope Julius I.  Yet, other celebrations were not uncommon in the far reaches of Europe at this approaching time of year.  This time of year, with short days in the northern hemisphere, meant that the harvest was in.  In addition, and more importantly, y Christmas, beer fermentation (or mead) would have been completed.  But, in Roman times t made sense for the growing Christian community to tie itself to such festivals and cultural occurrences.  Christians were part of a larger whole, and this allowed a more even assimilation.  No drastic break from long standing cultural traditions.  

Advent Calendar

Advent is a time of anticipation for the birth of Christ.  Romans looked forward to Saturnalia, a pagan but not dissimilar experience.  Such anticipation is meant to heighten the appreciation of the coming event, and to add even more joy to celebration of what recognized as the day of Christ’s birth.  Without an increased awareness does the celebration have as much meaning?  The unusual gives meaning to an occasion.  If the day was like any other than it really is not special.  Advent is meant to make Christmas special.  But, the consumer and secular nature of western culture  gives a different level of preparation.  We are engrossed in decorating, parties, baking, and shopping.  Now, this is not to say to avoid all things festive, but rather to do so in appropriate moderation.  But, yet, the stress that relates to the western preparation for Christmas is really the best reason to recognize the true purpose of Advent.  

WI State Journal, 3 Dec. 2017

Let me finish by borrowing a writing of Fr. J Kirby, who, on this date wrote about what he calls zombie Christmas.  To him the zombie Christmas is a found in the wider activities occurring in our wider culture.  The victims, he says have become detached and apathetic to the realities of Christmas.  His proposed remedy is one many secularists and the None may well find disconcerting,, let me quote him:  

The answer is simple and can be found in precisely what is in jeopardy, namely, the Nativity of Jesus Christ and the higher spiritual sentiments that are given through it. By reinvesting our attention and energy into the things of God and the elevation of our souls, we will find a resuscitation within us and retrieve again the life-giving joy of human existence and of this holiday season.

That is one reason why advent is important--to connect us to something beyond ourselves. The joy, hope and love associated with the birth of Christ 2000 years ago need not be relegated to hymns and old books. We simply need to resurrect its meaning in our minds and in our souls.

WI State Journal, Dec 3, 2017, notice the eyes in the second to last frame

 Images from Google, unless otherwise noted