Prepare ye the way of the Lord
Growing up, Advent was a penitential season, the serious seasonal color – purple came out and adorned our altar. I purchased my 3 purple and 1 pink candle each year and made an advent wreath. 4-3-2-1- The anticipation of new clothes, toys, candy, cookies, dinner was all consuming. When I got older and had a child, I made sure my shopping was done in October so I had time to prepare and have fun during Advent. There wasn’t really anything penitential in my thought process. An advent wreath and a prayer every Sunday!
While I still have difficulty accepting the new color – royal blue- I find that as a Christian Formation Director, this idea of anticipating rather than being penitential makes a whole lot of sense. We know a whole lot more about being anticipatory over a baby rather than penitential. A king is coming, A king is coming! This reminds me of how the media from all over the world gathered and waited not knowing when Prince George would be born. A king was being born! The announcements and celebrations were full of joy. Everyone waited with anticipation. Much of it was tradition.
Tradition. I love traditions. God is with me in the traditions of our faith felt most especially during the season of Advent. The readings during Advent speak of hope, peace, love and joy (the meaning of that Advent wreath I continue to light in my home). I choose a book to read during Advent that speaks to me spiritually during the season. I like to provide a gift for someone for whom I will never know or see open it, someone who needs to know that Jesus cares for them and loves them through a stranger. I make time for something that will touch me personally, a play, a concert. My greatest joy, however, is continuing traditions with our children in Sunday School...passing down the joy that the Prince of Peace brings. I want them to begin to experience the wonder and joy of “getting ready for the great mystery of Christmas”. I love to listen to their traditions too. Sharing traditions and keeping traditions are an important way to prepare the way of the Lord for all ages.
Nancy Sewell
While I still have difficulty accepting the new color – royal blue- I find that as a Christian Formation Director, this idea of anticipating rather than being penitential makes a whole lot of sense. We know a whole lot more about being anticipatory over a baby rather than penitential. A king is coming, A king is coming! This reminds me of how the media from all over the world gathered and waited not knowing when Prince George would be born. A king was being born! The announcements and celebrations were full of joy. Everyone waited with anticipation. Much of it was tradition.
Tradition. I love traditions. God is with me in the traditions of our faith felt most especially during the season of Advent. The readings during Advent speak of hope, peace, love and joy (the meaning of that Advent wreath I continue to light in my home). I choose a book to read during Advent that speaks to me spiritually during the season. I like to provide a gift for someone for whom I will never know or see open it, someone who needs to know that Jesus cares for them and loves them through a stranger. I make time for something that will touch me personally, a play, a concert. My greatest joy, however, is continuing traditions with our children in Sunday School...passing down the joy that the Prince of Peace brings. I want them to begin to experience the wonder and joy of “getting ready for the great mystery of Christmas”. I love to listen to their traditions too. Sharing traditions and keeping traditions are an important way to prepare the way of the Lord for all ages.
Nancy Sewell