Waiting for the Lord

This season we call Advent is all about waiting. How can we be expected to be patient and wait when we are bombarded with ads and flyers touting the latest and greatest deals of the “holiday” season? It starts way before Thanksgiving and keeps escalating right up to December 25th and then continues after with all the great deals you can get on items that haven’t sold and stores do not want keep in stock.

We need to be intentional about Advent, since this is the liturgical season that is building toward Christmas. Advent is not Christmas it is the time before December 25. And we need to remember as we build toward this Holy Day that the season of Christmas lasts well into the new year not just one day in the form of December 25. We need to wait with patience to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

I know this idea is difficult for those of you with children but waiting until as close as possible to decorate your home is one way of anticipating the great celebration. Then you will be able to leave your decorations up for the entire season of Christmas which ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is January 11 2015 this year. One way I did this when my children were younger was to start the season with the Advent wreath the first week of Advent. Then the 2nd week add some of the festive decorations that decorate the house, maybe turn on the outside lights that 2nd week, (which I do put up early when the weather is still warm, just because they are up does not mean they need to be turned on.) Another idea is to put your tree up that 2nd week with the lights but hold off on the decorations until the 3rd week of Advent (Gaudete Sunday). You get the idea, when you prolong the decorating the anticipation grows with each thing added.

And of course remember to wait to place Baby Jesus in your manger scene until Christmas Eve. When I had an outdoor nativity scene that would be the last thing to be lit and come to life on Christmas Eve. I would gradually light more of the outdoor lights leading up until that night. The lights around it would become brighter and brighter each week until the figures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph were lit that special night.

Earlier I mentioned that the Christmas Season lasts well into the new year. You could have a 12th night party as part of the celebrations. Did you ever wonder where the carol
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” came from? If you count 12 days from December 25 you will end up on January 6 which is the traditional day to celebrate Epiphany which is day we celebrate the Magi visiting Jesus and giving him the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The things you can adapt as new traditions are endless.

Have a very blessed Advent Season.