Dear Everyone,
Today is the first Sunday in Advent, when we light the Hope candle. This advent, I’m inviting everyone to join with me in reading “Advent and Christmas: Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen.” It isn’t too late to pick up a copy and join me.
Today, I began with Day 1 and I will continue in the Part 1 readings until Christmas, when I will switch to Part 2, and read the readings for the 12 Days of Christmas. I’ll be posting weekly and then on Saturday, December 16th, I’ll be joining the All things SR podcast in their chatroom at 9AM Eastern to talk about the readings.
Today’s Advent reading speaks of hope in the darkness, acknowledging that we live in a world filled with shouts, screams, and empty promises. To that list, I would add violence, hate, terrorism, and war. The challenge is to look to the light, to have hope, and to recognize that we are not alone. Advent is the beginning of a journey and I invite you to journey with me, to have hope, and to look to the light.
In the book of Isaiah 9:2, he writes, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” This is the light of Christmas, the light of salvation, the light for all of us. Join me in lighting a candle tonight to represent our hope, and to banish the darkness.
Peace be with you all,
SR
I am honoured to have had all three of my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. {
Hermosas palabras. Thank you for your thought and reflectivo about advent.
Be blessed
Muchas gracias por leer, Karen.
God Bless,
SR
When we & the world gets lost in the muck of despair, stress and violence; it pulls all down the rabbit hole of Darkness. This is force that is trying so hard to snuff out the light around us. Who ever or what your beliefs are we our sent signs to help us crack the darkness & spread the light. “This could be by receiving or giving a smile, a child’s laughter, seeing a cardinal or a Deer materials before your eyes for you to see then it slips back into the woods” I guess what I’m trying to say all the small gestures do add up and matter. I think we also forget to prepare we are in such a rush that we push traditions to the side and we miss out the wonders around us. I hope my jumbled thoughts make sense and I look forward to more discussion and spread the light.
Thank you so much, KK.
I’m glad that you’re joining me and thanks for your good words.
Have a good week, SR
Oi, boss, amo acompanhar sua leitura de advento de natal através das suas considerações eu aprendo muito. Obrigada por sempre levar palavras de amor, perdão e esperança. Te amo muito naverdade o Brasil todo te ama 💚💛
Muito Obrigado, Nani.
Feliz Natal,
SR
I recently had a conversation with someone regarding traditions. We all have them for the holidays. As a child Advent was always the precursor to Christmas. We baked cookies, decorated the house, put a Christmas tree up, a week before Christmas and taken down the day after Epiphany, But we never really sat down and thought of Advent season. We knew the Child was born and celebrated His birth. But there were always celebrations before hand. My maternal Grandparents belonged to two clubs, The Catholic Philo Patrian and the Bala Golf Club and their Christmas parties. A trip to Center City for the Dickenson Village, Wanamakers Organ. Decorating my paternal Grandparents tree (always real), and seeing what color tree my maternal Grandparents (Nana had white, silver, pink, blue and green) she never wanted a real one, she had a friend who passed in a fire from a Christmas tree. We lived with Nana and my Grandfather after she and my Grandfather each became very ill. My mom and Dad got a real tree that was put in the dining room. They were both in hospital that Christmas. Nana was put in a few days before Christmas and as the ambulance was taking her out of the house for her last time, the Christmas tree fell across the dining room table. A ‘Damn you Patsy’ were words I will never forget…lol.
The Advent wreath was not something we did in our home. Of course I had seen them. They were pretty and interesting. Learning the history and meaning of each candle has become important. What I find gratifying is that I have this book, Advent and Christmas Wisdom by Nouwen that is taken us through each day each day giving us a focus on that day. It has brought my sister and her “heathen sister” to a mutual reading. She even sent the book to her sister in law.
So now to the new traditions. We sent my former daughter in law and ourselves an advent wreath. Every Sunday we, my daughter in law, my granddaughter, my bonus grandchildren are doing a FaceTime call and lighting the candle. Saying the prayer. It is special and I thank you
SR for that experience. And the space for myself sister and I to connect that is important to each in our own way.
Thanks very much for sharing this, Pam.
I think our rituals and traditions connect us with our heritage and our past, but they also help us connect with family and friends and our present. The celebrations we have also connect us with our wider faith communities. I’m glad to be part of this reading community. Thank you for being part of it too, SR