I know I am going to sound like a terrible humbug, but it saddens me that we have almost entirely lost Advent to Christmas.
Christmas now starts sometime after All Soul’s and ends roughly on 26 December. It means that we can barely benefit from this important season of reflection to think about what Christmas might actually mean for us – namely, what Christ’s presence in our lives actually changes (And I mean all of Christ, not just the cute baby stuff). Instead, we are swamped by premature celebrations, which are enjoyable and absorbing, but leave little room for anything else. And then, the “big day” passes and it is all over…..we’re on to the next thing. Traditionally Christmas started on 24 December and the celebrating and Carol singing happened from then on. The period before was gentle, thoughtful and sombre, offering space for real transformation into a life fully present to Christ. So, let’s try, as a Christian community, to claim our Advent back from Christmas. Not by rejecting people’s enjoyment of the secular, festive season, but by making space in our hearts and minds for our Saviour who came into the world to teach, heal, comfort, suffer die and rise again. I wish you a blessed and transformational Advent.
– Rev Richard
