For those of you who know me well you are aware that I love warm and sunny days. This time of year I am always surprised by how short the days become. Of course the days will continue to grow shorter until we reach the end of December. With this turn of the seasons from fall to winter comes the time of year Christians call Advent.
Advent is one of four major fast periods in the Christian year. The others are Great Lent, the Apostles Fast that comes after Pentecost (usually in June) and the first fifteen days of August known as the fast of the Mother of God. Advent begins on November 15 and concludes with the feast of the Nativity on December 25.
During the season of Advent there are many themes that are brought to our attention through the Gospel passages and readings that accompany this time of year. This year and every year it would be beneficial to examine at least one of these themes, light.
Light as we know is essential for life. In the Church though we do not connect light with something physical or even technically with anything environmental. Rather light for us is a Person. At first glance this may strike you as odd the idea that light is Jesus Christ. In the church we have an icon of Christ that is called The Giver of Light that emphasizes this point.
Now within the context of Advent and the coming feast of the Nativity this point about the light being a Person is found in the festal icon specifically. If we look at the icon of the feast we will notice the central figure is the infant Christ. This newborn child is lying alone in a dark cave. What is the Church saying by depicting the event in this way?
The point should be clear, we are declaring for everyone who has eyes to see; here is the light right here in the midst of darkness and this light is a Person, Jesus Christ. He is the one who illumes our darkness. So Advent is a time to focus or refocus on the Light of the world. As we close out the year we should ask ourselves the question what or who have we been focusing on this past year? In this season we are afforded the opportunity to consider our answer to this question and perhaps reconsider our response.
Whether we are Christian or not we all seem to be caught up in this time of year. The anticipation of Christmas day seems to build and build until it reaches a climax. As we move past this wonderful celebration we will notice that the days will grow longer once again. Light will return and if we have used the time wisely we may connect the dots in a more profound and spiritual way. We may come to see as the Church does that light is a Person indeed.
With prayers for a Blessed Advent and celebration of our Lord’s Nativity,
+Father Evan
Hymn of Christmas: Thy Nativity O Christ our God has shone upon the world the light of knowledge. For by it those who had worshiped the stars were taught by a star to worship You. The Sun of Righteousness and to know You as the Dayspring from on high, O Lord glory to You.