Advent Archives - Sylvain Reynard

Advent Readalong

October 14, 2024

Dear Everyone,

I have been hosting Easter and Advent Readalongs for the past couple of years. This year, I’ve chosen “God is in the Manger” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian, who was a member of the Resistance movement during World War II. He was imprisoned in 1943 by the Nazis and later executed. He’s well-known in theological circles for his work, “The Cost of Discipleship,” which had a profound effect on me and many others. There are several films about his life, one of which you can discover more about here, which releases December 6th.

In “God is in the Manger,” we will explore a series of readings drawn from Bonhoeffer’s sermons and writings. We will begin our first reading on December 1st, the first day of Advent, and continue for forty days into 2025. You can join me by reading the ebook or the paperback edition . You may be able to find the paperback in your local library. I wanted to be sure to post my choice early enough for everyone around the world to source the book in time for December 1st.

I’ll be posting reflections on the readings here on my blog. I welcome your participation and your comments. I should mention that you don’t have to celebrate Advent in order to join me; this is an inclusive readalong and all are welcome.

Looking forward to reading Bonhoeffer with you,

www.sylvainreynard.com

Advent Readalong – Merry Christmas

December 26, 2023

Dear Everyone,

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas, if you celebrate. Yesterday, I read the “Feliz Navidad” reading from Henri Nouwen’s book, and I also read Day 1 from the Twelve Days of Christmas readings. Today, I’ll continue with Day 2.

Fr. Nouwen has a unique way of both challenging and encouraging. He emphasizes community and friendship, but also humility and service. Humility is a virtue that’s absent largely from my culture and from much of history. And yet, it contributes something so important to our own spiritual discipline and to the communities we inhabit.

Fr. Nouwen also emphasized how communities are always populated with those who confound or trouble us. He also writes how a community is a place that takes us in. This latter point really struck me. So often I think of community as a place we create for others, but really, community is the place where we are welcomed, despite our own shortcomings. I am grateful for this reading community.

I welcome your comments and Advent and Christmas reflections. Have a blessed Twelve Days of Christmas,

www.sylvainreynard.com

Advent Readalong – Week 3

December 18, 2023

Dear Everyone,

Yesterday was Gaudete Sunday. “Gaudete” means rejoice in Latin. One of my favourite songs is “Gaudete” performed by the Mediaeval Baebes. You can listen to it here. It’s mentioned in “Gabriel’s Rapture,” chapter 5.

During the course of Advent, we celebrate hope, peace, joy, and love. But as many of you know, it can be difficult to experience joy when one is grieving. I wanted to be sure to acknowledge that and also to point to a couple of resources. “Refuge in Grief” is a website managed by Megan Devine. On it, you’ll find lots of resources, including a Holiday Survival Guide. I also recommend her book, “It’s OK that You’re Not OK.” One of the strengths of Megan Devine’s writing is that she understands grief from experience. She is also a trained psychotherapist and weaves together her professional training with her personal journey. Whether you are grieving or whether you are close to someone who is, these resources might be helpful.

Advent and Christmas point us to Lent and Easter. Christ comes into the world to save humanity, and that process culminates in his death and resurrection. So while Advent and Christmas are a time of hope and joy, they are also a reminder of the things that bring us grief – death, loss, and pain. I was struck by the Scripture of Day 10 in our book, which was a passage from Isaiah 25: “On this mountain the Lord of Hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines …. He will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces …” Here, we have a description that sounds suspiciously like Christmas – a feast for everyone with rich food and well-aged wine. But beyond that, and more importantly, a feast where we are in the presence of God and he has eradicated death. Where we sit together, after the resurrection.

Advent and Christmas point us to Lent and Easter. The suffering of Lent and the grief and death of the crucifixion give way to the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting. Even in the midst of our suffering and grief, there is hope. There is also love and there is peace.

While it isn’t specifically a sacred song, one of my favourite songs about the resurrection is “After the Storm” by the band Mumford & Sons. You can listen to it here. It was profoundly inspirational for me when I was writing “The Roman,” which is the conclusion to the Florentine Series. The novel features my version of a resurrection.

Redemption and resurrection are themes I explore in my writing but they are also topics I spend a lot of time thinking about. And in this season of Advent, those meditations become all the more poignant as I acknowledge empty chairs at the feast. But I know we shall feast together again one day. “There will come a time, you’ll see, with no more tears ….”

Peace and joy be with you all,

SR.

www.sylvainreynard.com

Advent Readalong – Week 2

December 11, 2023

Dear Everyone,

I hope you are having a Blessed Advent. Thank you for joining me for this read along.

This week, Henri Nouwen mentioned several different spiritual disciplines. He spoke of prayer, of compassion, of community, and of space. I have found that each reading challenges me and I find myself going back to the reading again at the end of the day.

I’ve also enjoyed the actions he has suggested for each day. Who knew that enjoying a special kind of pizza was a way of venerating Mary!

Last night, I was blessed to engage with the reading community for a watchalong of part 2 of “Gabriel’s Redemption.” Reading books and watching films is enjoyable as a solitary activity, but they are so much more enjoyable when they are shared with others. I’m grateful to Mango and to the Argyle Empire for suggesting the watchalong and I’m grateful for the readers from around the world who joined me. Thank you. Looking forward to the release of part 3 of “Gabriel’s Redemption” this Thursday, only on Passionflix. The official trailer was posted by Passionflix on their instagram, and I’ve posted it on my Instagram too.

Thank you for reading and thank you for watching,

www.sylvainreynard.com

Advent Readalong – Day 1

December 3, 2023

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,

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