For Christ the Pantocrator Celtic Carmelite Wisdom Mission and Monastic Community, the season of Advent begins on November 15 each year.
Advent is a period of preparation which covers the forty days leading up to Christmas Day, also known as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ Jesus.
Other branches of the Christian Church celebrate Advent for the period of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve.
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word, “advenio,” which means “to come to”; “arrival”; or “coming.” It refers to the coming of Christ Jesus into the world.
The familiar story of the birth of Jesus is contained in the first two chapters of the Gospel of St. Luke, which is contained in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.
However, most of what we believe and practice about Christmas (The Feast of the Nativity of Christ) has come from our secular culture, rather than from the teaching of the Ancient Faith of the Early Christian Church.
Many stores begin the preparation for Christmas as early as September. By Thanksgiving, the shopping frenzy begins with the infamous “Black Friday.” Stores run bargains, stay open long hours, and open during the early morning hours in order to attract shoppers. Shoppers stand in line for hours to get the best deal on those “must have” items on their shopping lists. Shoppers often trample one another or get into physical and / or verbal fights to be certain that they get the items which they “must have.”
However, this is not exactly a depiction of peace and good will, but it is now an image of the entire time from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day.
Then, a second rush begins, as shoppers start looking for the After-Christmas clearance sales which many stores offer through the end of the year. There are also the long lines at Customer Service Counters for people to return many of ther items which they found under their Christmas tree. It is quickly discovered that the “must have” items cannot fill the void within each of us, a void which can only be filled by God Himself.
Have you noticed that the phrase “Merry Christmas” has all but been replaced with “Happy Holidays”? “Christmas Break” is now “Winter Break.” Most schools are not permitted to have Christmas programs. If the schools do have programs, they are mostly about “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bells.” There is very little, if any, mention of either the Nativity of Christ, or of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, or of the message of the Angels to the Shepherds.
Let me hasten to say that we are not fighting against any particular store. Rather, we are fighting against the powers of darkness, whose only goal is to separate us from Christ, in the same way in which they have already separated themselves from Christ.
This typical prevailing view of Christmas is not even remotely related to the vision of the Ancient Christian Church for this season. In the view of the Ancient Christian Church, the scene is radically different.
In actuality, there are three (3) comings of Christ. There is the celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas (the Feast of the Nativity). There is also the coming of Christ into our individual lives through Grace and Faith, as well as through the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Finally, there is Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time, in all of His Glory as King of kings and Lord of lords During the season of Advent, our preparations should keep in mind all three (3) comings of Christ.
The focus of the entire season of Advent is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in His First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in His Second Advent.
Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year-old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God – the revelation of God in Christ, whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is the process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate in the future.
Advent is not only a time of joyous anticipation, but also a time of penance and of preparation for the great Christmas Feast, the Nativity of Christ.
In this dual focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and congregations, as they both affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power.
Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, and of longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt as they cried out from their bitter oppression.
It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God Who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and Who brought deliverance to them!
How should we prepare for Advent? First, we should fast in our time of preparation. Then, we can feast. As in Lent, Advent should be marked by increased prayer, fasting, and good works, especially the giving of alms.
While the Western Church typically no longer has a set requirement for fasting during Advent, Christ the Pantocrator Celtic Carmelite wisdom Mission and Monastic Community continues to observe what is known as Philip’s Fast, from November 15 until Christmas.
Traditionally, all great feasts have been preceded by a time of fasting, which makes the feast itself more enjoyable. Sadly, Advent today has been replaced by the “Christmas shopping season,” so that by Christmas Day, no one I s able to enjoy the Feast of the day, as a result of “having shopped until they dropped.”
We can better enjoy Christmas – all twelve (12) days of it, from Christmas Day to Epiphany – if we revive Advent as a period of preparation. We can fast as is medically appropriate for us, depending upon our medical condition and our age.
We can incorporate such customs as the hanging of the Advent Wreath; preparing a Jesse Tree; or setting aside time each day for the reading of Advent Scriptures, all of which remind us of the threefold coming of Christ.
Traditionally, decorations were put up on Christmas Eve, but they would not be taken down until after Epiphany (January 6), so that we could celebrate the Christmas season to its fullest.
What is often now called “the holiday shopping season” (no longer “the Christmas shopping season”) has become, in many people’s minds, the Christmas season. Thus, the real Christmas season, which runs from Christmas Eve until Epiphany (January 6) simply becomes our preparation for the New Year.
Anticipating Christmas in this secular way not only de-emphasizes Advent, but it dilutes Christmas also. If we want to experience the true significance of Christmas, we must resume our proper celebration of Advent.
Instead of greeting others with “Merry Christmas” before Christmas Eve, why not wish them a “Blessed Advent”? If you are planning a Christmas party, either at home or at work, consider scheduling the party during the Twelve Days of Christmas (Christmas Day until Epiphany).
After all, Advent is our preparation for Nativity of Christ.
Just think about it, we could actually be celebrating, properly, the coming of the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God, the One Who would die upon a Cross so that we could be forgiven of our sins, so that we could be transformed into the likeness of God, and so that we could live eternally in His Kingdom.
A spiritual father said once: “Secular things bring happiness, not joy. Happiness fades away, but joy is unending and can only come through Christ. When you have joy, you can be in the midst of disaster and will still feel peace.”
In the tradition of Christ the Pantocrator Celtic Carmelite Wisdom Mission and Monastic Community, the celebration of Christmas, the Feast of the Nativity, continues through February 3 each year (a period of forty days). We believe that the significance of the Birth of Jesus, the Feast of the Nativity, is significant enough in our lives to last for a full forty days.
We anticipate and prepare for the Incarnation of Jesus, the Feast of the Nativity, for forty days. Then, we celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ for forty days also.
Thus, seek “JOY,” not “happiness.” Remember, you find Joy in Christ alone.
Similarly, we can only experience the true significance and joy of Christmas, the Nativity of Christ, through the time of preparation which comes through the proper celebration of a Holy Advent and the celebration of the Nativity of Christ for a full forty days.
Let us give all Honor and Praise and Glory to God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not only during this Season of Advent but also during each and every moment of our lives!!
AMEN!!
-This reflection was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by Dr. Floyd L. Covey, Sr., D.D.; Th.D.; Ph. D.; C. Carm. of C.T.P.; O.SS.T. – Bishop / Priest / Psychologist / Monk / Wisdom Guide / Anam Chara (Soul Friend).