Advent Reflections 2004

By John Michael Talbot
©Catholic Online 2004

Advent is a time for penance. In this it is similar to Lent. But it does not have the same rugged intensity as Lent. It is a bit softer and sweeter. Lent is a more severe penance, aiming at the ultimate extremes of Good Friday and Easter. Advent aims for Christmas, and its images of the Babe in the manger with mother Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, Wise Men, and God's good creatures settled in peace and calm. So at least from the non theological and experiential level, Advent is a time of penance, but with the cozy feelings of Christmas. As I like to say, "Advent is Lent with a little sugar on top!"

Nonetheless, Advent remains a very real time of penance. Beneath the peaceful manger scene is the rather harsh reality of the King of Kings born in the rugged poverty of a manger instead of a traveler's inn. This recollection of the extreme poverty of the Holy Family at the birth of Jesus was the point of St. Francis' reenactment of the Christmas crib at Greccio some 800 years ago which began the popular devotion of putting a manger under the tree in the Christian west

But even with a more historically accurate understanding of the circumstances of the birth of Jesus the overt focus on Christmas does not really start until December 17 for Catholics, and is not liturgically fully upon us until Midnight Mass. This is counter-cultural to the secular world in which we live. The secular world starts marketing Christmas in July. I know this all too well from my experience as a Christian recording artist. This marketing ramps up more steeply after what is now the second most celebrated holiday of America, Halloween. It makes the all out effort for commercial success the day after Thanksgiving. Most Christians in America at least wait until after Thanksgiving to put up Christmas trees, lights, and mangers.

Catholics do not really begin formal Christmas preparations until Late Advent on December 17th-25th. Until that time the first weeks of Advent are focused on preparing for the coming of Jesus into our life in several ways.

The first is, indeed, the historical coming of Jesus as a babe in a stable, His life, ministry, death on a cross, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. In this we look back in time to the historical Jesus as the gauge and inspiration for our own lives as Christians today.

The second is His final coming at the end of the age. Here we anticipate God's full knowledge of our entire life, are aware of His judgment, and most humbled in His forgiveness. The early fathers of the Church tell us that the first emphasizes His mercy and humility. The second emphasizes His glory and majesty.

But there is another "coming" between these two more commonly understood first and second comings. St. Bernard, an early Cistercian monk and abbot, tells us of a daily coming of Jesus into our lives through the Holy Spirit in prayer, word, and sacrament within the Church. While the first coming is most inspirational, and the second is most awesome, it is this third intermediate coming that is for me the most challenging on a daily basis. How are we living "like Christ," or as "Christians," within our personal world of family, friends, and coworkers? This seems more understandable for most of us, but this is the place where the rubber meets the road concerning the authenticity of our profession of the Christian faith. It often involves really personal and usually pretty tough stuff.

This is where the real penance begins. Do I really use all of the God given tools at my disposal to embody the love of Jesus in my daily life, or does my faith remain only a religious routine of ritual and doctrinal intellectualism? Important as those things are, they do not "incarnate" my Catholic Christian faith fully. They are most important tools, but only tools, to help me become more like Jesus in my daily relationships with God, people, and all creation. If I ready myself here, then I make use of the first coming to really be ready for the second coming. Then Jesus will really be the center, beginning and end, of my Christmas this year, and so of my whole life.

This Advent please try getting beneath all the signs and symbols of the celebration to the Reality of Jesus in our life. This will cause us all to do "penance," or "to change," and to change for the better.

___________________________

Editor's Note: John Michael Talbot is Catholic music's number one recording artist with sales of around four million records worldwide. With more than 40 albums, 14 books and numerous video teachings on ministry to the poor, simple living, Franciscan and monastic community living, John Michael Talbot has set himself apart as a true servant of God. He has been honored to perform for Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Pope John Paul II. To learn more about John Michael Talbot visit www.johnmichaeltalbot.com.

Contact

Troubadour for the Lord
http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com NY, US
John Michael Talbot - public relations manager, 315 3940596

Email

scott@johnmichaeltalbot.com

Keywords

advent

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »