Even though the Advent season has technically already started, there is still time for you to take the time to observe this special time of year. In some areas of the globe, Advent is considered equally as important as Christmas itself. There are certain denominational groups and congregations that choose to observe Advent together, while others typically skip over this tradition. Whether your church is one of the churches that observes Advent corporately, or you go to a church that participates but you’re not sure about taking part, there are plenty of reasons for you to consider taking part in the observation of Advent.
Today, discover more about the spiritual benefits associated with this traditional time of self-reflection and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth.
Gaining Self Awareness
One of the most powerful aspects of taking part in Advent celebrations is found in the fact that it gives us the opportunity to put ourselves in proper perspective, especially in relation to God’s plan for humanity. Even if you don’t consider yourself a selfish person (and most of us would certainly say that we’re not selfish), most of us view the world that we live in through the lens of how things impact us. Doing so doesn’t make you self-absorbed. Instead, it simply makes you human. However, Advent allows us to shift our focus to God’s larger design for humanity.
Since the concept of Advent is all about preparing yourself to celebrate the arrival of God in the Flesh, it requires you to think about the fact that you’re not the center of the universe. God had a plan for humanity from before the creation of the world. That plan revolved around Christ’s arrival through Mary, His death, and His resurrection. Take a moment and embrace the fact that while you are a part of God’s plan, you were not the focal point.
Connecting to Church Tradition
Advent has been a focal point of the New Testament Church for thousands of years. This does not mean that congregations that choose not to take part in designated Advent celebrations are operating sinfully. Instead, it simply means that Advent is an important tradition within the Church as a whole.
Being connected to the traditions of the Church is a great way to further ground your faith. Connection to a body of believers, either through your local church or through the Church as a whole, puts you in a position to better embrace your faith.
In a time where the word “tradition” often carries negative connotations, it’s important to remember that many of the traditions that are held in high regard by the Church are an important part of the Christian faith.
Remembering the Saints Who Waited
For thousands of years, the heroes of the Old Testament waited in a state of perpetual longing for the Promised Messiah. Men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are widely considered the pioneers of the modern Church prayed and longed for the day that the Messiah would come. Prophets such as Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah prophesied about the promise of His coming, and how when He arrived, He would set His people free from captivity.
Perhaps you were not aware of this, but there was a 400-year gap between the last book in the Old Testament and the first book of the New Testament. For those 400 years, God did not speak to humanity. This period is historically considered one of the darkest times in human history, as it marks the longest period of divine silence that humanity has ever experienced.
The heroes of the faith who existed in the Old Testament and during that 400 years of dark, bleak silence waited for the day that they could celebrate the very event that Christmas is all about. They longed, prayed, fasted, wept, and wailed in anxious anticipation of the day that Christ would come into the world to offer salvation to humanity. They died without realizing the promise that we get to celebrate in a few short days.
During the Advent season, you can spend some time reflecting on their faith, even in the face of waiting. The Old Testament encapsulates more than 1,800 years of human history, and those heroes of the faith knew that Christ was coming, but they died without ever seeing the fulfillment of that promise. We are all incredibly blessed that we get to embrace the true meaning of the season because Christ has come, and the promise has been fulfilled.
Taking a Moment to Be Still
The Christmas season is a hectic time of year. For billions of people around the globe, it is one of the busiest travel times of the year. Whether you’re one of the people making airline reservations and lining up rental car transportation, or you’re trying to get your home ready for holiday hosting and other events, there is no denying that Christmas is often a chaotic time of the year. It’s unfortunate that we have allowed the stress of the holiday season to overcome what this time of year is meant to be about, but it has become an unavoidable part of the equation.
The observation of Advent gives us the opportunity to slow down so we can better focus on what Christmas is truly about. This doesn’t mean that you will suddenly escape all forms of holiday stress, but it is important to take a little time each day to recalibrate yourself so you can truly embrace what the Christmas holiday is truly about.
Pursuing Patience
In Paul’s list of the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), patience is listed as one of those fruits. As we’ve already established, the Christmas season is a stressful, busy time of year. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for everyone, including Christians, to exhibit a lack of patience when dealing with others. That’s not an excuse to be rude to people in the name of stress, but it is a sad reality about what this time of year can do to people.
Joseph and Mary were faced with what seemed to be a no-win situation on the first Christmas. Not only was Mary carrying the Son of God, but Joseph was trying to figure out how to take care of his young bride while also embracing the role of being the stepfather to the Son of God. Can you imagine his frustration when they arrived in Bethlehem and found out that there was nowhere for them to stay? The Gospel accounts of the story never indicate that Joseph flew off the handle and berated anyone. Instead, he simply dealt with the situation in front of him. During Advent, allow yourself to pursue patience with your friends, family members, and the people that you deal with while shopping, traveling, and fulfilling all the other obligations associated with this time of year.
The Advent season is a time of reflection, prayer, and celebration. After all, the entire premise of this holiday season is the fact that Christ chose to take on the form of humanity so that we could enter into a relationship with God. How you choose to observe Advent is completely up to you. However, it’s a good idea to take some time during the holiday season to slow down on reflect on the true reason for the season.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to keep the true meaning for this time of year at the forefront of my mind. I know I tend to get focused on the things that I think matter, but in the grand scheme of things, they are temporary. Thank You for the gift of Your Son and how His presence can ensure that I get to spend eternity with You. In His name I pray, Amen.