Advent - A Time of Quiet Reflection

One of the things that we humans are not very good at is living in the present moment. This is even more so as we prepare for the great festival of Christmas. We tend to spend December, the season of Advent, thinking beyond Advent. We are in danger of missing what this precious season has to give us altogether.

The reflective character of the Advent season is supposed to encourage simplicity and opportunities for silent reflection.

So how can we live in the season of Advent this year whilst still preparing for Christmas? One simple little ritual may help. Gather four candles and arrange them with care on a plate or board, perhaps with evergreen foliage. On the first Sunday of Advent (Nov 27th) get up a few minutes earlier than you usually do, and light the first candle. Turn off any electric light and sit in the darkness with only the candle light shining. Allow the quietness and atmosphere to seep gently into you and perhaps say over to yourself as a mantra something like, "Christ the light of the world." Add to this liturgy if you wish with a short bible reading or meditation on one of the themes of Advent (below). But keep it short. Do not overburden yourself.

Each day in Advent follow this ritual but on the second Sunday light the second candle (so that you now have two candles each morning); the third candle on the third Sunday, and so on.

If you do this throughout the Advent season you will find a new spaciousness inside yourself, a growing sense of wonder and mystery – a place for the Christ to be born.

The Principal Themes of Advent

• hope
• darkness / light
• repentance
• watchfulness
• preparation
• expectation of the incarnation of Christ on Christmas
• anticipation of the fullness of time at Christ's second coming

This piece first appeared in the Church magazine.

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