The Christian holy season of Advent begins on Sunday, November 29. Perhaps the remedy for shopping frenzy is to look to the deeper roots of the Season. Marian Styles-Mc Clintock calls to us from the Christian tradition, with words of peace, goodwill, and kindness to the tired, pregnant stranger and her young husband. They are far from home, grateful for a roof over their heads, and they bear the precious burden of our salvation…

The Advent season is a time for us to learn to wait, pray, and listen for the peace of Jesus Christ is coming. We sing Emmanuel, Emmanuel. God be with us in this time in between and the times of waiting. If we would remember when we search for a Christmas tree and light the lights, the smell of pine and cedar remind us of the ancient birth of Jesus and the lights remind us of His salvation. We sing with joy and hope that we will recognize Him when He appears in the common, ordinary details of life and work, and when we receive His broken body in Holy Communion.

The Advent Season reminds us that Jesus Christ is coming again. “Ain’t that good news?” As Dante wrote in the Divine Comedy, “In His Will is our peace.” And in a Guide to Prayer, it is written, “The refreshment of Christ is peace to replace our impatience.” (p. 368).

For me, the Advent Season like all the other holy seasons is a time for special prayer and fasting. It is also a time of remembering loved ones, especially those who are deceased and gone on to rest in peace. I feel these are times of joy, sorrow, laughter, and preparation for the celebration of the day when Jesus arrives.

This year almost no different from last year as we read in newspapers and listen to news, we are still surrounded by hunger, poverty, war, terrorism, climate change, and other disasters in the world. When Jesus was born, the people of that time also were struggling to live with a commanding government. Today we are struggling and praying that our Congressional leaders will pass a health care reform bill so all Americans will have affordable health care.

This is a time we yearn for God’s kingdom in its fullness. We pray as we hang the fresh greens, turn on the lights, that the world will hear “The Lord is King, let the heavens ring!” —Our task is to march in the light of the Lord and invite all nations and peoples to come to the light of God. God reigns—let us all be glad.”