The season of Advent
is often lost in the Christmas scramble – but it is one of my favorite
times. For me Advent is about waiting –
waiting for the Light. For we who are
Christian it is a time of preparation.
In our churches the central altar frequently has 4 candles to represent the four weeks of anticipation. One more is lit each week. This week we will light 3.
Some people want to
make a big deal about the factuality of Jesus being born at the darkest time of
the year – We live in a scientific age where everything is either true or not.
If its not documentable it be questionable. Some scoffers point to the
prominence of mid winter festivals in other cultures to support their doubts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winter_festivals
For me the
important thing is the metaphorical truth that into our human condition – into our
lives – new hope can be born when we are open to the possibility –The greatest truths are often
best told in the form of metaphor. Even Jesus taught by means of metaphors. We recognize the truth in the stories of the "Good Samaritan" and "The Prodigal Son" - never mind that they never happened. The older I get the more content I am to
live with what I can’t explain.
For me the story of
Advent is about making ourselves open to the new hope and peace that can come into
our lives in unexpected forms. Hearing
about the birth of a baby born into poverty... born in a cow barn because there
was no room in the motel...the story becomes current for our time. This baby grew up to be in a world where he befriended the poor and disenfranchised. To
think that such a baby could grow up to teach us a new way of being
– based on caring for the poor, being responsible for our fellow human beings –
that is the coming of the Light for me.
In
the story, the three ‘wise men’ from the ‘East” gave gifts to the baby Jesus. In many countries gifts are not given on
Christmas day but the ‘Three Kings Day’ – January 6 (Epiphany). Judy and I discovered this custom in
Southern Mexico – where Christmas is a day of religious ceremony – complete
with music – fireworks –parades - and a special nighttime mass in the churches.
Then after New Years day the streets are
filled with merchants selling toys to be given on January 6. Gift giving does not extend to adults. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches and European
countries also celebrate January 6 with a day of gift exchange.
Gift-giving
did not become the central Christmas tradition it is today until the late 18th
century. Stores started running
Christmas ads in newspapers in about 1820. Santa Claus
started appearing in ads and stores by 1840.
But
if you look beneath the surface, the deeper sprit of Christmas can still be
found.
We also support Christmas gift
giving through Heifer International http://www.heifer.org...
I think many people would be happy to
receive the gift of an animal given to a third world family in their name
- rather than ‘get’ one more ‘thing’
they we don’t really need. Last year
Judy and I said that if anyone wanted to give us a gift let them be Heifer gifts; and we received a pig, 2 goats, a flock of
ducks, and share in a llama.
I
see people giving up part of their Christmas day to help serve dinner to the
homeless... I see kids collecting canned
food for the hungry. I see the Salvation
Army people ringing their bells.... Yes I think the spirit of Christmas is alive and
well.
