The season of Advent (from the Latin word meaning “arrival”) was at one time seen as a sort of “mini-Lent”, a time of penance and self-denial, but one mingled with joy, the joy of preparation for the arrival of the Christ-child on December 25th. As the Church’s liturgy continued to develop, especially after Vatican II, the spirit of Advent has become one, similar to what we do at the state of the calendar New Year, of anticipation and of hope. 

Regrettably, the joy and hopeful expectation that we are called to experience in Advent is in danger of being forgotten. We’re now in the most hectic time of year, compounded by the confusion and uncertainty as we continue to live in this time of pandemic. Sadly, the hope of Advent is reduced to the hope that we’ll get everything done in time, and the anticipation has become the anxiety that we may not.

But, if we stop for a moment and remember that this season is one of preparation for the coming of Christ, we’ll probably recognize that we may be trying to do too much. Or maybe we’ll see that we’re not doing what we really need to do to prepare for Christmas. Then we can see if we can try to re-center our efforts. But even if we can’t, just stopping for that moment and pausing to remember is in itself an act of preparing for an arrival.

It’s probably not a good idea to try to do everything you think you need to do in the hustle and bustle of the holiday rush. Instead, choose what you like and do as much as you can. One suggestion may be to seek and then take the opportunity to talk to your kids or your grandchildren about the meaning of Advent – over dinner, in the car, at bedtime – whenever and wherever the opportunity may present itself. Tap into the excitement about the coming of Christmas and use it as a moment to catch and to spread the joy that matters: the preparation for our Savior’s entry into history in order to save us for eternity!