As we find ourselves in the beginning of the Advent season, let us take a moment to reflect on what this season is truly about and acknowledge the necessary changes required in our life and how we live the season, in order for our hearts to truly welcome Christ. Advent is time for much internal preparation, a time where we should reflect on the coming of Our Lord and to seek making changes in our life that allow us to grow closer to Him. There was a time the season of Advent was seen as a penitential season, much like Lent, but so many today focus more on the celebration of Christmas than the spiritual preparation our souls need for the season.
From the strict viewpoint of the Church’s teachings, or more specifically Canon Law, Advent is not a penitential season that requires mandatory fasting and penance. However, that doesn’t mean we are not encouraged by the Church to still practice some form of penitential acts in preparation for Christmas. We celebrate Christmas to celebrate the first coming of Christ, his birth on earth, and his second coming, the end of the world. It is meant to be a joyous and hope filled celebration, and so is its preparatory season, Advent. Advent is considered a time of preparation so that we may properly receive Christ, and to do so we must have a conversion. The whole reason we celebrate Christmas isn’t just because Christ was born. Why was he born on Earth to begin with? For the redemption and salvation from our own sins and from death. It is a time for reconciliation and repentance, a time to recognize that we are sinners. Advent calls us to once again convert our hearts so that we may leave our own sinful ways in order for Christ to redeem our souls. Just because Christ came and saved us, doesn’t mean we don’t have to put effort into our own salvation. On the contrary, it is because of Christ's death and resurrection that we can now be saved, if we follow the teachings and commands of God which His own son taught us. That is why we are called to live Advent in a way where there is reparation and repentance. It is a season for conversion from all our sins and a time to once again renounce the things of this world and follow Christ. We should be offering things up as a way to detach ourselves from our earthly things and our human desires so that we may become instruments of God’s love and peace. Advent is a time where we should offer up small acts of penance as a reparation for our sins in order to better prepare for our own death and final judgment. It is the perfect time to go to confession, offer up small acts of mortification, and of course acts of charity towards others.
As we prepare our souls we may also want to prepare our surroundings. A huge debate we see today is whether to decorate for Christmas early or not. Some would say that would hinder us from living Advent as a true penitential season. Others would say Christmas is such a beautiful season we should celebrate it more, and sooner. The one that really produces a chuckle is those that say Christmas decor brings so much joy and happiness into their life. A few points that would be good to keep in mind is that Advent, while a time for penance, is also meant to be a joyful time of preparation. Think of it like preparing for your child’s birthday party. There is much work to be done, things to prepare, at times even moments of sacrifice as we try to get everything ready for a joyous celebration. The day of, we decorate with balloons and streamers, we feast with a delicious meal and cake, and we sing and celebrate our child. The birthday is the climax, but there is much preparation that was done before to allow for the birthday to be celebrated for the joyous occasion that it is. Advent is similar in the sense that it is perfectly alright for our homes to slowly prepare for the joyous celebration of Christmas Day and the Christmas season that follows. We shouldn’t be so focused on making Christmas happen early, or even prematurely celebrating it to the point that we are burnt out come December 25th. We should be slowly building up the excitement for the big day where all that joy is finally released on the day of, and can continue for the many celebratory days that follow. With that in mind, decorating our home can be a slower process versus what we sometimes are inclined to do, which is to explode instant Christmas in a few short hours the day after Thanksgiving.
We can enjoy seeing our homes transform as we slowly decorate for Christmas during Advent, still keeping in mind to live Advent as a time for internal preparation. The decorations shouldn’t be the focus or reason we celebrate Christmas, rather how we display the significance and joyfulness the day stands for. The tree, decorations, foods, and even most traditions are historically rooted in displaying a deeper religious meaning and paying homage to the significance of the day. Most people don’t even realize much of their loved decor holds a deeper meaning than just being pretty and festive. If we are more excited about the decorations, trees, and presents then our meaning of the holiday is wrong. Personally, I have found that seeing this slow transformation helps me live Advent in a way that is centered on obtaining holiness and growing closest to Christ. There is also less pressure of feeling everything must be decked out in one day and I feel like I get to truly enjoy Christmas day, and the Christmas octave, with full on pomp and glory rather than begin completely done with the most wonderful time of the year.
In conclusion, living the season of Advent shouldn’t be a one-sided viewpoint, it is a balance. We need to balance properly preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ while also growing in excitement and allowing ourselves to build up that joyous, childlike anticipation. If that means decorating the tree a couple of weeks before December 24th, attending a friend's holiday party, or watching a few Christmas movies early helps build that excitement, then do it. But don’t go to the opposite extreme where you fill every day after Thanksgiving with loads of Christmas activities and celebrations that prevent you from taking the time to center yourself within Christ and prepare your soul to receive him. For those with small children, it doesn’t have to be a time that feels gloomy or solemn either. We can’t act as if getting excited for Christmas or taking part in a few festive traditions or activities is sinful and anti-advent. Remember, Advent means coming, Christ is coming. When we know a loved one is coming home we pull out all the stops and joyfully prepare ourselves, and our homes, to receive them with a loving embrace. That is exactly how we should live the season of Advent, eagerly preparing our hearts and homes for the coming of the most loved one in our life so that when he arrives we may rejoice and celebrate.
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