One of the early church fathers, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1050-1153) said there was “a danger of seeing Advent merely as preparation for Christmas.” It’s true. By the time we get to Advent we’re well into the Christmas season. It’s easy to lose Advent. It is nearly impossible to hold ourselves in a place of waiting.
Here is a practice for Advent staying.
Prayer: (You may choose to light a candle of hope, peace, joy and love.)
We keep coming back to this season, O God, even though we’ve been here so many times. Year after year, we make the journey because the story is in us. And we will come again, as long as we imagine what can be, and isn’t yet.
We come again to light the candle of Hope. We celebrate the Hope that is already here. We imagine all the ways Hope is still needed in our unfinished world. And we pray for Hope still to come. (Wait)
We come again to light the candle of Peace. Peace is here. All the Peace we need. And we imagine all the ways Peace is still needed in our unfinished world. So, we pray for Peace still to come. (Wait)
We come again to light the candle of Joy. Joy is here. All the Joy we need. And we imagine all the ways Joy is still needed in our unfinished world. So, we pray for Joy still to come. (Wait)
We come again to light the candle of Love. Love is here. All the Love we need. And we imagine all the ways Love is still needed in our unfinished world. So, we pray for Love still to come. (Wait)
We keep coming back, O God, because our prayers are needed, our work is needed, for the good of the world. Amen.
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