The most wonderful time of the year is upon us. The season of Advent. You may know it as the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. A period of waiting and preparation before the celebration of Christ’s birth. With each passing year, I love the Advent season more and more. So much so, that it feels just as exciting as it did to wake up as a child on Christmas day. There’s just so much to love about this special season. And so many ways to make this Advent season a meaningful one.
The Beautiful Symbolism of Advent
Who can resist the beautiful symbolism of the Advent season? A lush evergreen wreath and the soft glow of candles. There’s something special about the lighting of the first Advent candle. It’s a sign of hope, and it fills me with peace.
Did you know that an Advent wreath is often described as a symbol of eternal life? The circular wreath has no beginning and no end. Just like God’s love for us and his endless mercy.
The candles (three purple and one pink) symbolize Jesus as the light in our dark world. Each week during Advent, a new candle is lit preparing us for our Savior’s birth. The first week’s candle (purple) symbolizes hope as we wait in joyful hope for the birth of Christ and anticipate his second coming. The second week’s candle (purple) represents faith as we remember the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. The third week’s candle (pink) symbolizes the joy the world experienced as Jesus was born. And, the fourth week’s candle (purple) represents love as we rejoice in God’s love for us through the birth of his son.
A Season of Preparation
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus which means coming. Specifically, Advent is the time when we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s birth and prepare for his second coming at the end of time.
I was thinking about how much time I spend preparing my home for the Christmas season. I decorate the house, bake cookies, wrap presents, and prepare goodies to share with neighbors and friends. But, I wasn’t preparing spiritually.
So, this year, during this Advent season, I’m preparing my heart to get to know Jesus a little more each day. Above all to make this Advent a meaningful one.
A Time of New Beginnings
When Advent comes to mind, I think of more than a wreath or colored candles. I think of new beginnings. A fresh start. In fact, in the Catholic Church, the season of Advent ushers in the beginning of a new liturgical year. The church missal begins with the readings of the first week of Advent. And we sing songs of our Lord’s upcoming birth.
Similar to making a New Year’s resolution, this Advent I’m making a spiritual resolution. To make Advent meaningful, I need to draw closer to Jesus. The good news is that if you struggle in the area of spiritual development like I do at times, the season of Advent provides plenty of opportunity for spiritual growth.
Making Advent Meaningful
Unlike the hectic pace of the commercial Christmas season, Advent is a time of peace. Specifically, Advent is a time to quiet our minds and to open our hearts to receive Jesus. It’s an opportunity to remember what this season is really all about.
Here are five simple ways to make this Advent season a meaningful one.
- Pray each day – Make a commitment to daily prayer. Sometimes I let other things get in the way of my prayer time. But, this Advent, I’m reaffirming my commitment to praying each day. There’s no specific formula to follow. But, here’s what works for me. I find a quiet spot and begin by thanking God for my blessings. Then I ask him to forgive me for my sins. I close my prayer time by bringing my concerns and prayer petitions to him placing them in his care.
2. Read a spiritual book – In order to keep your mind on Christ this Advent season, read a spiritual book. There are many to choose from, so select one that speaks to you. One of my favorites is a daily devotional called The Word Among Us. It contains the daily mass readings along with a commentary on them. And, this month’s edition focuses on Advent. Likewise, I’m also enjoying an Advent devotional that our church distributed called God is With Us, An Advent Journey with Thomas Merton, St. Mother Teresa, and Henri Nouwen. If you’re not sure where to start, I’d recommend Preparing for Christmas, Daily Meditations for Advent by Richard Rohr, Jesus Calling for Christmas by Sarah Young, and The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren.
3. Practice Patience – What better way to practice patience than during the time of Advent? The Advent season is known as a time of waiting after all. And, we all know that waiting involves patience. Do you struggle in the area of patience like I do? If so, join me in practicing the virtue of patience this Advent. I can’t think of a better role model for patience than the blessed Mother. Her patience and humility was evident from the moment God called her to be the mother of Jesus to the time she gave birth to our Savior.
4. Be the light of Christ to others – With so much darkness in this world, remember that Jesus is the light. In fact, the Advent candles symbolize the light of Christ in our world. So, this Advent, make an effort to tune out the negative stories on the news. Don’t give in to the temptation to gossip. Instead, devote time to sharing the light of Christ with others. Be that beacon of light to those around you. How can we do this? Well, this Advent, I’m focusing on being present to those around me. Giving people the time and attention they deserve. And, remembering that each and every person is a precious child of God.
5. Remember the reason for the season – Surround yourself with reminders of the real reason for the season. Whether its an Advent wreath in your home, a nativity scene, or a Bible displayed on your table. Don’t forget that Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season. This year, we have an Advent wreath in our home. And, we purchased a larger nativity set and put it on the base of our fireplace. It’s the focal point of our family room where we gather. My daughter decorated it with lights to highlight the place where Christ was born. These are simple reminders of where our focus should be this Advent. Let these little reminders fill your heart and your home with the celebration of Christ’s coming.
How are you celebrating this Advent season? Please share in the comments section below.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (NIV)
Thank you Suzanne for this wonderful article. I am doing a lot of the same things as you this Advent. I like your suggestion about practicing patience. I too need to work on that. I am reading the book Rediscover Jesus. I started it a long time ago and for some reason stopped. I’ve picked it up again and am reading a chapter or two each night before I go to bed during the Advent season.
The book you mentioned is on my reading list too! Thank you for sharing. Practicing patience is always on my to do list 🙂
The word Advent does mean coming. as we await the birth of the baby Jesus, we need to pray for the safe coming of an anticipated unborn baby. Whether here or in heaven, all life is a previous gift from God. As we get older, we see life in a more meaningful way. Let us honor and pay homage to that infant in that beautiful nativity scene.