I want to Apologize Carl for not posting Advent mediation for us. I have an elderly family member from out of state who spends the Holidays with us between Thanksgiving and New Years She spent most of the week in the Hospital She is home now and doing better but I had little time to post over the past week
I use three sources
The unity Book
The Spirit of Christmas, Which is free but not online
The Episcopal Church Advent Lectionary, which is all Over The Internet, including here
Revised Common Lectionary
And The Catholic resource Website,
Daily Scripture Readings for Advent - Advent & Christmas Season - Catholic Online
Although these are by no means the
only resources available.
I like to read over each one, then spend some time thinking about my own experiences and insights. While I do read the suggested scriptures, I find myself also looking at others for inspiration as well. I quoted a few here on my daily devotionals.
Last week, curious as to Hanukkah and the sheer number of people around who are celebrating it, I sought to look back at the origins
The Scripture I read was
1st and 2nd Maccabees, which tells of the conquest of the Holy Land by Antiochus, and the overthrow and restoration led by Judah, and we learn how the temple had been defiled, leaving only one hidden untouched vial of oil, for which the Menorah miraculously burned for 8 days instead of 1.....
Similarly, we light Advent wreaths now, today is the lighting of the Pink Candle of Love. although many choose to use 4 Purple Candles
The Light, of the Candles, both Advent and Menorah have deeply symbolic meanings
For us, The Light of the Candle of Love shows us the Greatest gift, Unconditional Love
Incarnate, which exhibits that which is Christ.
By meditation on the message of Love, allowing it to flow through us, we become lights of that Love for all to see. We carry on the great commandment, Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself. We become Pure Love, a Love which transcends all seasons. We use this season to help remind us of this message
Advent is a most beautiful time for us.
Today my son pointed out that we are less than two weeks until Christmas. I thought of when he was younger, when I was younger, and when we could hardly wait for Christmas Day. It seemed to come so slowly....and yet now, I long for a longer, slower, Advent, more time to read, devote and meditate on the Season of Christmas. Life is not a race to the end, it is a Journey filled with Beauty, Wonder and Love. It is as good and as great as we make it through the Divine Love which flows through us.
I love the beautiful Advent season.
For me, the material aspect of the Holiday is less and les important every year. I am embracing non-materialism, minimalism in regards to material goods. Jesus knew that materialism does not make one happy, which is why He once advised a rich man to sell everything and distribute the money among the poor. Jesus knew the secrets to Love and Peace and that they do not lie with material possessions.
There is a sticky note of my computer screen this time of year which reminds me to "buy nothing"
But there is time daily to read, pray, meditate on the Season. For that is where the true Christmas can be found.