Devote Advent 2007 as a time to refocus and renew myself spiritually

...start today, the end of Advent.

Merry Christmas, and God Bless Us, Every One.

Just got back from my Church’s Christmas Eve service for Communion and the lighting of the Christ Candle. As a whole things went well for me even though I never got around to buying or making an Advent wreath as I had originally hoped to.

This was the heading for yesterday’s Advent reading. The entry following was written by one of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen, and here is a part of it:

Learn the discipline of being surprised not by suffering but by joy. As we grow old, there is suffering ahead of us, immense suffering, a suffering that will continue to tempt us to think that we have chosen the wrong road. But don’t be surprised by pain. Be surprised by joy, be surprised by the little flower that shows its beauty in the midst of a barren desert, and be surprised by the immense healing power that keeps bursting forth like springs of fresh water from the depth of our pain.

I was surprised by joy yesterday morning in my Sunday School class, when I related my little story about feeling blue the other day, and then hearing Handel’s song “Ev’ry valley shall be exalted” that night, and finding comfort and hope in those words. Our teacher told a strangely similar story about a friend of his, who was recently divorced, had to leave his home, and is currently travelling around the country, not knowing what to do next with himself. He is not religious at all, but he called the other day and told his friend, my Sunday School teacher, “I know I’m in a valley right now, but I have hope that I’ll find my way out, eventually.” It felt good to share my little story, and good to hear a similar story. There have been a number of other surprises since then. Light shining in the darkness.

Well, today (and tomorrow) Advent comes to a close. Midnight Mass tomorrow night. Looking back on this Advent, I consider this goal completed to the best of my ability. This Advent was not perfect, but I feel I have grown in ways unanticipated, and have new hope for the future. Because of my knee injury, this Advent brought a forced quietness that I am not sure would have happened if my knee was working. I am going to assemble an Advent Kit for next year so I don’t have to dig for everything if it gets moved. But for now, I sing the hymn of Advent and carry it in my heart at the approach of Christmas Day!

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Yesterday was a blue day for me. A valley. I cancelled an appointment in the afternoon. I didn’t go to a meeting scheduled in the evening. I didn’t go walking. I didn’t do much of anything.

December 22 is Winter Solstice this year, the shortest day and the longest night. Another valley. I forgot about it, so I missed it, but last night my church held their annual “longest night” service, for people who are grieving during the holiday season.

I recently set a 43-T goal of reviewing 2007, and this past year seems like a valley in my life.

Last night I fell asleep on the couch, with the CD player going, and a CD that I’d borrowed from the library this week, containing songs from Handel’s Messiah, was on the turntable. Several times I woke up and the selection “Ev’ry valley shall be exalted” was playing. The words started to sink in, and give me hope.

Got a late start on this but I am just beginning to realize the importance of the O Antiphons of Advent. What are the O Antiphons? Let me share what I have learned.

The O Antiphons are prayers that date back to the seventh or eighth century by monks and based on scripture texts. They are prayed in the last 7 days before Advent, often before meals around the Advent wreath, as a family, and at Church. Each one ends with a plea for the Messiah to come.
http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/801/O_Antiphons_of_Advent.html

“A particularly fascinating feature of the O Antiphons is that the first letter of each invocation, when read backwards, forms an acrostic in Latin: the first letters of Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, and Emmanuel in reverse form the Latin words: ERO CRAS. These can be understood as the words of Christ, responding to his people’s plea, saying “Tomorrow I will be there.”

Here they are:

December 17th:
“O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth.”

December 18th:
“O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.”

December 19th:
“O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us, and do not delay.”

December 20th:
“O key of David and scepter of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”

December 21st:
“O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”

December 22nd:
“O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay.”

December 23rd:
“O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Savior. O come and save us, Lord, our God.”

We made an attempt to slow down but still seems like time is flying. We did a poor job trying to get shopping done early, and a last minute trip back into the rat race of the stores about killed the spirit. Next year I need to really get that shopping done early.

Also, we have had few Christmas events planned early. I think we needed at least a big one, but I couldn’t get DH motivated to get tickets anywhere. DH was complaining yesterday evening, “it just doesn’t feel like Christmas.” Sigh. Next year I will just have to buy the tickets. For DH, growing up, Christmas really was just about getting gifts. Usually my father-in-law proclaims on Christmas Day after all the gifts have been open, “another Christmas gone, another year gone by, well that was fun, etc.” which just kills me. Christmas has only just begun!

Fighting against the “Christmas Culture” can be rough! Keeping good cheer after the 25th when the rest of society is down in the dumps dealing with that empty feeling “stuff” just did not fill, searching the stores for what they didn’t get to try to fill that void.

How do we keep Christmas in our hearts?

TV is officially off (except for Christmas movies for the family) and music and silence are on! I am tidying up things in preparation for guests and the arrival of Christmas. We kicked off the day with the rosary today, and will conclude with Advent Prayers tonight. It helps now that I have this time off. Work can be such a distraction and burden sometimes when trying to do these things!

This is one of my favorite parts about Advent. Lighting the pink candle! The anticipation of Christmas approaching is ringing in the air. To stop and remember the JOY of the season, stop and take a deep breath, bask in the moment, remember the real reason for the season. To reflect on the coming of Christ, not just in the nativity, but also the coming at the end of the world!

...even though I am worried by my lack of progress in so many areas of my life.

My reading and meditation this morning were about staying patiently in the present moment, and attending to what is in front of me, instead of regretting the past or worrying about the future. A very zen-like devotional. This is something that I hope to have an opportunity to practice today. Right here, right now.