Advent

An Advent Welcome

Well, the first snowfall has happened. It only seems like yesterday that we were being prompted to reflect on the Fall Triduum and the “dying” world around us. Now, we are fully into winter and the days are shorter and darkness is more prevalent. Now, as dreary as that may seem, there is hope for those who really enjoy their vitamin C in the light of Christ coming back into our lives and then actual sunlight coming back into our lives longer a few months later. Next week, we enter into a time of preparation in the season of Advent. Advent has four weeks and a theme for each week, which keep us far from darkness. The first week of Advent is about HOPE. Hope is what we have in the coming of Jesus, which is renewed in each season of Advent and Lent. The second week of Advent is about PEACE. Right now, we need to pray and act for peace more than ever. The third week of Advent is about JOY. Classic question: what brings you joy? Not just fleeting happiness, but authentic joy. The fourth week of Advent is about LOVE. Later during His public ministry, Jesus gives us His two greatest commandments, which both had to do with love: love of God and love of neighbor. All of this prepares us for welcoming Jesus into our lives once more.

A couple of years ago, a mentor of mine sent me a graphic to share with the youth I was working with in our Leadership Academy, which said, “Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus.” This is based on Luke 2:7. During this season of Advent, it can be easy for it to get away from us in the form of preparations for the things that, while important, aren’t about preparing for Jesus. This season has so much to offer us to help break away from the “every day, every year” routines of the season in preparation for December 25, which is only one day of the Christmas season itself. During this season, it is important to celebrate with others. During Advent and Christmas, there are roughly 29 holidays celebrated by just the major 7 world religions and within our rich Catholic tradition many ethnic traditions like the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Feast of St. Nicholas, Immaculate Conception, Simbang Gabi, Kwanzaa, posadas, and more. There are also many symbols that helps us keep tradition in the season like the Jesse Tree, the Advent wreath, and the creche.

So, my siblings in Christ, Happy Advent-ing and let us ask ourselves what kind of innkeeper we are going to be this year when that knock comes to our door.

Peace,

Oblate James Holzhauer-Chuckas, ObSB
Executive Director

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Learn About Advent Traditions

The Jesse tree helps us connect the custom of decorating Christmas trees to the events leading to Jesus’ birth. The Jesse tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot shall come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Jesse was the father of King David. We adorn a Jesse tree with illustrated ornaments that represent the people, prophesies, and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. The ornaments of the Jesse tree tell the story of God in the Old Testament, connecting the Advent season with the faithfulness of God across four thousand years of history.