Dear Theophilous,
As the calendar turns over to December and the malls fill
with Christmas decorations, we are reminded of the joyful warmth that Christmas
brings. There are office parties to go to, neighbours to have over, as well as
family and friends to reconnect with over food, drinks and gifts.
Yet the Church is clothed in a mournful purple, and the
Scripture readings remind us of God’s final judgement and call us to forgo the
pleasures the season embraces. What gives?
Unfortunately, in all of the hubbub that surrounds our
preparation for Christmas, we tend to forget why Christ came in the first place
– to save us from our sins.
Keeping this in mind, every year I try to make my Advent a
mini-Lent in an attempt to prepare my heart for the true meaning of Christmas.
I try to incorporate the three pillars of Lent: Prayer, Fasting
and Almsgiving
into my Advent life.
The funny thing is, the craziness of the pre-Christmas
season actually lends itself to making Advent a kind of mini-Lent.
Prayer
December always seems like a whirlwind. There are gifts to
buy, friends and family to see, and Christmas concerts to attend. One would
think that it’s pretty much impossible to keep a prayer life, let alone deepen
it.
When I begin to feel overwhelmed I take a mental step back,
a deep breath and create a personal bubble of silence in the busy world. A
simple prayer of thanksgiving – for the child who’s concert I’m squeezed into a
stuffy gym for, the ability to buy gifts in a mall full of grumpy shoppers, for
the job which I leave for and come home from in the dark.
Prayer life in Advent doesn’t need to be monastic; it can be
quite simple, and as such, it can give us the strength to meet the festive
flurry head-on.
Fasting
Diet in December… impossible, but fasting can be made easy.
Culinary temptation is all around us in the lead up to December 25th;
the call to fast reminds us to enjoy this time of year simply and responsibly.
Fasting is Advent doesn’t need to be a complete giving up of
food, luxurious treats or drink. Fasting can happen through out your normal
daily life: a simpler and healthier breakfast, a small lunch (perhaps one made
at home instead of from the food court), and only one helping at dinner. When
it comes to all of the yummy nibbles at Christmas socials, taking just one or
two, instead of three or four or more, will let you be both socially polite yet
aware of our need to fast from overindulgence.
Almsgiving
At first glance, the lead up to Christmas seems to be the
antithesis of charity. For 11 months of the year we teach our kids the
importance of sharing, and then once December hits we inform them they can tell
the fat man in the red suit their wildest desires, and then on the 25th
it magically shows up in the living room. Even as adults we get caught up in
the greed of Christmas, sending family and friends a list of everything we want
but felt guilty purchasing for ourselves.
Yet in the midst of the “Gimme! Gimme! Santa!” mindset in
the weeks before Christmas we can find the perfect opportunity not only to
teach our children, but also to learn a little bit ourselves about almsgiving.
Many schools will collect gifts for families struggling to
make ends meet, never mind buy Christmas gifts. Many elementary schools will
have Christmas Angels, where families or students will bring in individual
gifts, while high-school homerooms will purchase gifts for a specific family.
When talking about this kind of giving with my son or students, I don’t
approach it as simply giving another gift, but rather to go with one or two
fewer presents under the tree (it’s not like there still won’t be an
overabundance) so as to give something to someone who is in need.
As for my own Advent almsgiving, I bring my Lenten practice
to December: the money I save by fasting (from fast-food, treats or the school
cafeteria) goes into the poor box each Sunday. What I have found is that by
concentrating on giving to the poor during the Church’s penitential seasons,
this practice becomes a habit that lasts throughout the year, giving the St.
Vincent de Paul Society a more steady (albeit small) income they can count on.
So, dear Theophilous, as we begin the new liturgical year
this Advent, joyously awaiting the coming of our Saviour at Christmas, let us
not lose sight of why God sent His only Son to dwell among us. By focusing this
Advent on the three pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, not only will
your Christmas take on a more sacred feel, you will draw yourself closer to the
Lord at His Nativity.
Just read your article. Good one. I liked it. Keep going. you are a best writer your site is very useful and informative thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy blog: best spinning reels