First Sunday of Advent



“...nations will be in dismay”, “People will die of fright”, “...powers of the heavens will be shaken”.

One might wonder how a season in anticipation of our Savior’s birth can start off with such an ominous tone. This prediction of the fate of the world & the human race doesn’t make one feel hopeful & joyous. It doesn’t call to mind the pleasure of exchanging presents & cards, baking cookies, singing carols, decorating the tree, or any of those fun Christmas activities. Nor should it!

We are beginning the season of Advent, NOT Christmas…much as secular society would have us believe. Advent is a time of waiting & preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus. According to the Oxford Languages English Dictionary online, vigilance is “the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties”, coming from the Latin word, vigilare, which means “to keep awake”.

Carousing, drunkenness, & daily anxieties are some actions Luke lists which can be dangerous to us on our spiritual path. They can distract us & cause us to miss out on the redemption at hand. Therefore, we must be vigilant, keeping awake & aware of anything that can lure us away or cause tribulation in our lives. Prayer should be our first step to combat those misleading actions. The Holy Spirit can provide for us the graces & strength to be ready for Christ’s return.

The Christmas season doesn't officially begin until Christmas Day. So, for the next few weeks, try to postpone some of the Christmas stuff & focus on Advent. Through vigilance, prayer, & attentiveness, aim to prepare your heart for Christ’s Second Coming while awaiting the celebration of His Birth. 

One suggestion is to postpone listening to Christmas songs (yes, I know that’s tough considering most secular radio stations & stores started playing them the day after Halloween!) & listen to Advent music instead. Here are a few hymns. Can you think of any others?

O Come, O Come Emmanuel
 O Come Divine Messiah
 Come Thou Long Awaited Jesus
 People, Look East
Rorate Caeli (Click the link to listen to & see the translation of this beautiful Gregorian Chant.)

Years ago, a fellow blogger friend suggested the following activity to spread out the tree decorating process & find more meaning in the Advent season. For the first week of Advent, we reflected on life by putting up the tree with no trimmings. The second week, we added the lights to remind us that Christ is our light. The third week the ornaments were added…special touches in joyful anticipation of Christ’s Birth. Finally, we added the tree topper (an angel that year) on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

I recently came across this idea & I think it will be one of my Advent meditations this year. There are 24 chapters in Luke’s Gospel & beginning today (Dec. 1), 24 days until Christmas Eve. Take one chapter per day to read, reflect, & apply to your life in anticipation of Christ’s Birth. For added benefit to your spiritual Advent, journal any insights that come to mind in your reading & reflecting.

Of course there is also the Advent wreath with four candles (three purple & one rose). Each represents a different virtue: hope, joy, peace, and love. As we light a new one each week, we symbolically portray the light that Jesus’ Birth brings into our dark world. Sometimes, there is a fifth candle lit on Christmas Day, a white one in the center of the wreath to symbolize the light of Christ.

Whatever you choose to do this Advent season, know that we are praying for you & wish you a blessed journey!

    What other Advent activities can you think of to help you focus on Christ’s coming?

    What distractions can you add to Luke’s list that may cause you to miss out on your redemption?

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