About a month before Advent began, the calendars hit the shelves. Walking through the aisles of my favorite grocery store, I noticed an Advent calendar for dogs – “cute!” I thought, and quickly texted a picture to my husband. I sent it to him knowing that it would make him roll his eyes but kind of hoping he would think it was cute too, so I could justify picking one up for our dog. He did not.
But, anyway. The next week, I was grocery shopping again and noticed one side of an entire aisle was devoted to Advent calendars. Advent calendars for kids, for dogs, cats, for chocolate lovers and coffee drinkers. But there were even more themed options – Harry Potter Advent calendars, Pokemon Advent calendars, calendars covered with animated characters from children’s TV shows.
“I guess people are really excited for Christmas?” I asked myself as I strolled through the aisle, passing the wide array of options.
As I drove home, I found myself wondering why there was such an abundance of Advent calendars this year… and how this season of the church year which anticipates celebrating Jesus’s birth and which looks forward to Christ coming again had been changed to completely focus on consumption.
As Christians, we know that we have to guard our hearts against overconsumption at Christmastime and… now we have to guard Advent too. Because it is a sacred season. The purpose of Advent is to prepare room in our hearts for our king, so that on Christmas day we can sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”
Advent is the start of our liturgical calendar. I know, December is the last month of the calendar year. But Advent is the beginning of our church year. This is something I often forget, but which brings a better perspective to life when we can keep it in mind.
Advent begins our year because it points to Jesus’ birth and his return. This is such a special time to consider Jesus’ promise to be with us and to return to us to create a new heavens and a new earth. So, it isn’t even just about Christmas. It’s about the renewal of everything. Yes, it points to Jesus’ birth, but it reminds us of our rebirth through water and Spirit. And points us to this beautiful promise:
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:52-54).
So, this season is not about daily surprises and the expectation of Christmas gifts. As Christmas day grows closer and we work to check the boxes on our shopping lists, we ought to remember to reflect on the gift of Jesus’ presence. He came on Christmas day and promises to come again – and he is with us each and every day in between.
Jesus is with you. He sustains us. Everything we need is provided to us by Christ. He gives us hope, comfort, peace, motivation, love, joy, patience, enjoyment. He sustains us when we’re feeling sad, alone, angry, exhausted. He is always giving to us – and he wants us to take what he offers. In John 15:5, Jesus tells us that if we aren’t connected to him, we can’t do anything… This is the difference between worldly consumption and being rooted to Jesus. There is no end to his goodness, and it truly fills us up.
