The Season of Reflection

Advent: The Season of Reflecting

For years, the season of Advent and Lent has been most difficult for me.  Part of that is due to the cultural materialism that has stricken all of our most sacred days, and it is most revolting to me.  But it’s difficult in another way.  These days of Advent have caused me to ponder, think back at how I treated Christmas, and those images that seem to be most associated with it, like family, gift-giving, and even the benevolence of Santa Claus.

This past Sunday was then the 2nd Sunday in Advent.  Part of our congregation’s tradition is to have the Children’s nativity on this Sunday.  So instead of the sermon, we saw and heard the nativity story by the very young. To be honest, it was excellent. The child readers, the music, even the organization of more kids than I could shake a stick at, were so caught up in what they were doing that they were believable. They did it so well.

But what caught me was my emotion.  It wasn’t about cuteness, but simply about Jesus coming to us to save us.  And I found myself weeping. Why? Because my sadness was a kind of quandary between that and the joy of the season.  How could I have both feelings within?  I was sad, grieving over the fact that our God came to Earth to save us from ourselves.  He left Heaven, gave up what He had for us, and He did it in a world that was hostile, vindictive, murderous, sinister, crooked, all of which we are to this day.  

But there “welled up” a joy in my heart as well.  For when He came to us, to save us, He saved even me and all those who accept His salvation.  

But in a time when Christmas has been diminished by our culture, I have begun to take the time to just ponder all that He gave up for us and how He saved us. So, the sadness was overcome by great joy but not without my pondering all He did for me, what He gave up for me. 

Hopefully for you as well. Do not let anything get in the way of your preparation for Christmas, especially in this Advent season. 

Grace and Peace,

Quentin

Advent, 2025

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