The “Season of Advent” became included in the Church’s celebrations during the Middle Ages. It emphasizes the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, and provides a time of anticipating Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. With a forward gaze, it also symbolizes the Church waiting in anticipation of the return of Christ.
While the Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love may be well-known by many, my treatment of them is a bit unique, somewhat informal. I hope you catch the humour, are nudged by the poetry, and see the story behind the allegory; and, I hope you are supported in your anticipation and celebration of the coming of Jesus, the Saviour, who was born in a smelly barn.
One more thing – May I suggest that you limit your reading to only the one Advent theme of the week, and that you read it with your heart, not your mind, perhaps out loud(?), laughing(?) and allow time for contemplation.
This little booklet is about some of the gems – polished and unpolished – that we find scattered about the landscape of the original Christmas story. Like outliers, the prophets, uncle and star-gazers, the angels who polish their manners, and the rugged ancient tree that experiences a kind of resurrection, all help to complete the scene and make the lead characters sparkle. Who knows? They may also polish us up a bit.
