There is a recent product and consumer trend that I am torn about how to feel. Since well before Halloween — when many retailers already put out the Christmas stuff — another kind of seasonal item was filling the shelves — Advent calendars.
There are a variety of products letting people countdown to our Lord and Savior’s birth. Some of them include candy, jam, shower gels, pet treats, lip balm, fishing tackle, and candles.
How wonderful. Now we can all prepare the way with all of our favorite hobbies and confections.
All of this will lead everyone to get ready for the coming of Jesus on Christmas right?
Eh . . .
While I’m gladdened by the fact that the word “Advent” is back in popular culture, I know these calendars are nothing more than countdowns to Christmas or countdowns to when bad holiday movies stop airing daily on TV.
You’ll forgive me if I don’t think that someone popping daily mints in their mouth, drinking out of a mini wine bottle every day, or using a new daily fragrance of soap is really reflecting how they can prepare their hearts and minds as a place for Jesus.
The real meaning of Advent
I’m not saying that Advent can’t be used as a countdown to Christmas. That is certainly part of it.
It’s getting ready for what is to come on that silent and holy night.
Can you imagine, though, opening up a mini present for 24 or so days leading up to your birthday?
You’d be tired of presents by the actual day.
That would be like being tired of Christmas lights, Christmas music, and Christmas movies on December 23. Who would want to live in a world like that?
I’m not even totally against Advent calendars either. They can be wonderful learning and devotional tools.
Good Advent calendars have daily Bible passages or other reflections. They recall the stories of the Annunciation, Visitation, and Nativity, along with all of the blessed Salvation History events that came after in the early days of Jesus.
I’m also not saying cut out the candy completely, but let that not be the daily highlight as we go through Advent.
Advent is a journey. It’s a time to be ready and accept Jesus in our lives. It goes by so so fast.
Here’s a thought. If you feel your Advent devotional time is too short, start your Advent-ing the first time you see anything Christmas-like in the stores or advertised.
Start reading the Gospels, but pace yourself. You don’t want to be all prepared and ready at the same time that you’re buying the Thanksgiving turkey.
We can make Advent what it really should be for those who think it’s just a sugary sweet countdown to more sugars and more sweets on Christmas.
Time to get ready
As I look out the window near my office, I can see the start of the familiar Christmas sights.
The biggest sight is that thing called snow and all of its mixed blessings.
You can almost hear the sleigh bells and holiday-themed commercial jingles vibrating through the air.
There is really no other time like this.
It’s a time we’ve been given and wallpapered ourselves for anticipation and stress.
While we’re on the right track placing an emphasis on Christmas shopping — giving to others instead of ourselves — we drain ourselves out trying to make our giving perfect.
God wants our best, even if we can’t be perfect. Why should our loved ones, liked ones, and tolerated ones be any different?
If you give this Christmas, give with love. Giving for other reasons is not worth hurting yourself over. Shouldn’t your love be enough of a gift?
Some Catholics would argue we’ve lost Christmas, its meaning long distorted, let’s not lose Advent too.
Preparation is a part of any holiday season, but if you’re preparing for Christmas dinner more than how you’ll pray on Christmas, you need to step back for a bit.
Knowing what Mass you’re going to, who is going with you, and what prayers you’ll be saying leading up to the Nativity should come before the shopping list for the casserole and buying those good hot dogs your family is known to eat on December 24.
Soon, it will be the time for the babe born in a manger again. Some of their plans didn’t work out either on the way to Bethlehem.
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.