In the Christian year are kept the major events surrounding the life of the Christ. For the four weeks preceding Christmas, Advent is kept to celebrate that the Word of God has become flesh. In the spring, Palm Sunday is kept to celebrate the entry of the Christ into Jerusalem. On the Thursday before Easter, Maundy Thursday is kept to celebrate the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. The following day, Good Friday is kept to celebrate the Crucifixion. On the following Sunday, Easter is kept to celebrate the Resurrection of the Christ. On the seventh Sunday after Easter, Pentecost is kept to celebrate the outpouring of the spirit of God on the disciples. Between Pentecost and Christmas there are no major Christian festivals. But within this period the story of the life of the Christ is retold annually by the church.

[Today Christians begin Advent, the pre-Christmas season.] Two ways of keeping Advent are possible. The first is an exhausting, secular ritual. Gifts must be purchased and shipped. Cards must be mailed. Trees must be lighted. On Christmas Day gifts are distributed, a generous dinner is enjoyed, and then Christmas is over. There is nothing intrinsically evil about this way of keeping Christmas; it is only that in the exhausting secular observance the Christ may be forgotten.

How can we make Advent a season of refreshment? By taking a Christian view of Christmas.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.(John 1:14)

The Christmas story tells how God has come to us in the form of flesh. God has come to dwell with humanity. As the verb may be translated, “The Word became flesh and pitched his tent with us.” He has brought light into the darkness. No longer do we need grope along an uncertain path to God, for ‘‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Advent can become a season of refreshment by interpreting Advent experiences from a Christian viewpoint. Christians have long been geniuses at this. Originally December 25 was a pagan Roman holiday, but when the Roman Empire was Christianized this holiday eventually became the Christian Christmas. The use of Christmas trees is said to have gone back to the tree worship of pagans in northern Europe, but the Christmas tree has been baptized and made a part of Christmas. Most Christmas symbols: bells, holly, candles etc. can be traced to paganism, but they have been Christianized and have become a wholesome part of the observance of Christmas.

Christians need always to be Christianizing Christmas. Sometimes Santa Claus has loomed so high that he has hidden the manger. In the bars and gambling dens hang “Merry Christmas” signs. In homes, churches and schools Christians need always to be Christianizing Christmas. The tinsel should not be allowed to eclipse the Word of God.

Advent can be made a season of refreshment by accepting anew the Christ as Lord. In Pilgrim’s Progress, when Christian had arrived at his eternal destination he was asked, “How did you do it?” He replied that he had seen the print of Christ’s feet in the dirt and had put his feet in the tracks. This is the vocation of every Christian.

Sometimes that path leads to the Jordan and important decisions. Sometimes it leads to the wilderness of temptation. Sometimes it leads to the temple and the condemnation of evil. Sometimes it leads to Capernaum and the healing of the sick. Sometimes it leads to the mount and the teaching of a message. Sometimes it leads to the city to befriend a sinful woman in trouble. Sometimes it leads to Bethany to comfort friends. Sometimes it leads in agony to Gethsemane and prayer. Sometimes it leads to the Upper Room and sad goodbyes to dear friends. Sometimes it leads to Kidron and betrayal. Sometimes it leads to the Sanhedrin and trial. Sometimes it leads to Golgotha.

From now until December 25, the stores are going to be crowded. Parking places will be fewer, and shoppers will have to walk further to their cars. Bank accounts will grow slimmer and credit accounts fatter. A flood of Yuletide parties will be hosted and attended. Gifts of all assortments will be purchased and wrapped. And yet Christians have the audacity to call this a season of refreshment.

It can be a season of refreshment if those who keep it remember the purpose for having Advent: to celebrate that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” At the beginning of Advent, Christians are reminded that God has come to them and is with them in the fight of life.

Prayer: All-loving God, who are revealed to us in various ways but supremely through the person of Jesus the Christ, we praise You for Your revelation to us. For Your love which caused You to send him into the world we adore You.

We thank You for the hopes of the prophets which culminated in his life. For those who received him as the Messiah but supremely for him, the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us, we thank You.

During Advent, cleanse us of the impurity that has tainted our lives. Forgive us for our unforgiving spirits, our reluctant services, and our hateful attitudes. During this season of the year when the world is crying, “Glory to God in the highest,” may we contribute to a world in which peace may become a reality. To this end strengthen those who work for the abolition of racial prejudice, poverty, starvation, illiteracy and emotional and physical diseases. Guide those who attempt to interpret life in spiritual terms and to add new dimensions to personality development.

While businesses, homes, schools and churches are more filled with activity than usual, help us to be still and to know that You are God. Speak to us in a still, small voice and refresh us that during this season we may accept anew the Christ as Lord of life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen