[I wanted to share this as a last-minute prep for Christmas – I originally wrote it for the News-Gazette Faith & Worship guide this year. God bless!]

“There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens” (Eccl. 3:1). It may seem odd to see these words from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes in an article about Christmas, as it is a reading more often associated with funerals! However, in addition to speaking of a “time to weep… [and] a time to mourn,” this chapter speaks of “a time to laugh… and a time to dance” (v. 4). It is wisdom to understand the grace proper to each time, and to live in accord with it. The liturgical year (in other words, the church calendar of seasons, holy days, etc) applies this Biblical wisdom to our lives. As much as we give great significance to changing calendar years, I believe we should give even more significance to the change of liturgical seasons.

Advent encompasses the four Sundays before Christmas Day. The Christmas season is more than a single day, but continues through the traditional twelve days to Epiphany. Too often we miss the grace of the season of preparation, and cut short the celebration of its fruits. I want to look at three ways that Advent complements and prepares for the grace of the Christmas season. Advent is a time of reconciliation – with God and neighbor. This entails receiving forgiveness, granting forgiveness, and working to form stronger bonds. The fruit of this work is peace – the true, profound peace we desire to celebrate on Christmas.

Advent is a time of charity – a generosity that flows from gratitude. Commercialism may drive us to “shop till we drop,” and leave us worn out and in debt. The fruit of helping those in need and service to others opens up an interior freedom that leads to joy – the true, profound joy we desire to celebrate on Christmas.

Advent is a time of prayer – conversation with God. Whereas the world around us is filled with noise, prayer allows us to hear clearly. Scriptures, sacraments, devotions, and personal prayer give us the opportunity to spend quality time with God. The fruit of this time is love – the true, profound love we desire to celebrate on Christmas.

Ecclesiastes wraps up its reflection on the various times of life by stating, “I have seen the business that God has given to mortals to be busied about. God has made everything appropriate to its time, but has put the timeless into their hearts…” (vv. 10-11a). There is a timeless grace hidden in the Child Jesus. What a gift to have this appointed, appropriate time of year to once more make our way to Bethlehem.