The Liturgical Season of Advent is pure gift for me and there is no where I would rather be during Advent than in my own monastery. For this reason I try not to take a lot of outside engagements. I prefer not to travel much but to STAY PUT. Everything points to the sacredness of this season. The focus is not on shopping or even decorating. It is a season of hope for a dear world that has known far too much darkness. We focus on the coming of the Light, the approaching feast of the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. I usually spend much time praying for peace during this season. Above you will see my Advent wreath with two little angels in waiting. Strange as it may seem to some people, we do not put up our Christmas tree until a few days before Christmas. Of course we leave the tree up during the 12 days of Christmas. That is when we begin (in earnest) to celebrate Christmas.
In my last post, using thoughts from the poet Dorothy Walters, I alluded to the truth that there is something in our hearts that constantly bleeds towards God. During Advent I am always drawn into this ancient yearning so difficult to describe. I ache for God.
You may remember that I gave you some messages that I would like to slip under your door. Now I am wondering if you might want to share a few messages you would like to slip under the doors of those you love in this holy season. As for me, I love finding hopeful messages under my door. Perhaps we can all take a little extra time for silence and hope.
Here is an Advent message I am poking under the door of the private room my son has in this home he shares with me. Peter, you are such a joy in my life, a reliable helper, my grocery shopper and cook, a quiet and reassuring presence when I rush home from work. I still treasure all those Advent calendars whose doors you opened as a little boy. This Advent I will open a door in my heart each day and pray you into health and hope.
ReplyDeleteYour loving mother, who is learning to live in kindness, simplicity and joy with Jesus.
I'm often accused of being a spoilsport (bah humbug!) over the Christmas period because the very last thing I want to do is loads of manic socialising, especially of the party variety. I just want to sink in more deeply. Sometimes this makes me feel more apart from people I know, so I rather envy you in your monastery.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, these customs of the tree and other decorations. In my family we never put up even the merest sniff of a decoration until Christmas Eve, and then it was a great family effort (with much sinister muttering under his breath from my dad in his attempts to get the lights working). Feels like a lifetime ago, but to this day I put up my decorations on Christmas Eve.
Macrina - thank you for this post. Intentionally I have simplified my Christmas this year. I too am choosing to shop much, much less and commit to less "doing" as I feel very called into a deeper worship experience and to embrace what feels so very sacred about this holy season. Dec. 23 @ 7 a.m. I am honored to be giving a Homily at my church and have something very special planned. A message I would play under someone's door is one I read in a Hallmark book recently: "Choose to see the good in everything around you: even if you have to squint !"
ReplyDeleteA hopeful note under your door: Only two weeks until the return of the light with the Winter Solstice! Yay!
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