Sylvain Reynard

NY Times Best-Selling Author

Advent Readalong – 2026

Dear Everyone,

This year I will be hosting my annual Advent Readalong again. Advent begins Sunday, November 29th. I want to invite all of you to join me on this reading journey.

This year, I have chosen the book, “Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas,” Plough Publishing House, 2001. I purchased the hardcover edition, but there is also a paperback. This book includes daily readings by different writers, designed to inspire us and to encourage reflection as we journey through the Advent season.

I’m suggesting that we read the Introduction and the first reading, “Action in Waiting” by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt on November 29th. Then, we can continue the readings on a daily basis, following the order in the book. I’ll be posting reflections here on my website and I invite your comments and reflections on the readings.

I hope you will enjoy me on this (now annual) Advent Readalong.

Thank you for reading,

SR

www.sylvainreynard.com

Epiphany

Dear Everyone,

Yesterday was Epiphany, Three Kings Day, and it brought to a close our Advent Readalong. I want to thank everyone who joined me on this journey and especially Pam and Leslie of the All Things SR podcast, who hosted me in their chatroom. I really enjoyed hearing everyone’s reflections on the readings and on the paintings.

This year’s readalong prompted a lot of reflection. Several of the paintings included in Jane Williams’ book were new to me. It was a great opportunity to take time for beauty and for spiritual reflection.

I want to leave you with a reflection on one painting, Nativity 2006 by Brian Kershisnik, from Day 26. Williams points out a lot of details in the painting, inviting us to take our time studying it. But the overall impression I receive from the painting is one of comfort and community, as the angelic host surround the Holy Family. The sense of community, both seen and unseen, is one I hope we take with us throughout 2026. Our reading community is but one part of the community we belong to and as we journey through both triumphs and trials this year I hope we will all remember that we are not alone. I am grateful to you, readers, for accepting me into your lives. Thank you.

I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. Peace be with you and peace be with your communities,

SR

www.sylvainreynard.com

Advent Readalong – Christmas week

Dear Everyone,

Thank you for reading along with me. One of the many things I’ve enjoyed in this year’s Advent book is the diversity of artwork represented. The author, Jane Williams, has selected pieces from different time periods and styles, as well as different media. Our journey through Advent has been a journey through art history as well.

I was particularly struck by Domenichino’s painting of Moses. I’d never seen this painting before. The painting and Williams’ commentary reminded me of the connection between the Old and New Testament – a connection culminating in Christmas, as well as the connection between Judaism and Christianity. This week I was shocked and horrified to learn of the massacre at Bondi Beach in Australia. I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the worldwide Jewish community, but particularly the Jewish community in Australia. And I hope to communicate that there are many people, like me, around the world that condemn hatred, violence, and killing and who wish to live in peace with all peoples of all traditions.

As we approach Christmas, my daily prayers will be for peace and I will continue to speak out against hatred and violence. I know I am not alone. I know that we, the human race, are not alone.

Peace be with you all and peace especially be with our Jewish friends and neighbours,

SR.

www.sylvainreynard.com

Advent Week One

Dear Everyone,

I’ve been enjoying this our Advent readalong. There’s something special about being introduced to a new work of art each day and having the opportunity to meditate on it within the context of Advent. Some of the artwork has surprised me. For example, I’ve never thought of Hieronymous Bosch’s triptych, “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” as an Advent work. But Jane Williams’ commentary places Bosch’s work into a wider context. While she references C.S. Lewis, I think of Dante. The themes Williams emphasizes are certainly themes explored by Dante in his “Inferno,” and a reminder of the purpose of Advent: to save us from ourselves. I had the pleasure of viewing the triptych in person during my last visit to Madrid’s Prado Museum. You can view it here.

I was also surprised but very pleased to see Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” This painting is one of my favourites and I feature it in “Gabriel’s Inferno.” Again, although I had never thought of this work as an Advent work, William’s commentary and especially her prayer, caused me to rethink the painting. Here is her prayer, “Lord, lead us this Advent into the abundance of your limitless love, and as your Holy Spirit welcomes us, may we also welcome each other, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Which painting from this first week is your favourite? Did any of them surprise you? As we embark on the second week of Advent, today, I want to thank you once again for joining me on this virtual Advent pilgrimage. I wish you a continued Blessed Advent and I look forward to your comments below.

Thank you for reading,

SR.

www.sylvainreynard.com

Blessed Advent

Dear Everyone,

I wish everyone who is celebrating a Blessed Advent. Today, I am embarking on the first day of the Advent Readalong, with the first reading from Jane Williams’ book, “The Art of Advent: A Painting a Day from Advent to Epiphany.” I hope you will join me.

Today’s painting is “The Ancient of Days,” which was painted by William Blake in 1793. It’s an unusual painting and Jane Williams provides an excellent commentary on its surprising features. You can see the painting and discover more about it here.

In her commentary, Williams reminds us of the juxtaposition of light and darkness and the many emotions we encounter as we look forward to Christmas. There’s much to reflect on in this paper, and Williams assists us by providing reflection questions, along with a prayer. I was struck by her emphasis on the intelligibility of the universe – an intelligibility “built in” by God, so to speak. And that intelligibility can be seen in nature, in mathematics, in science, architecture, music, literature, etc. God wishes to be known and that profound truth is one worth considering.

As we begin our collective journey through advent, I invite you to read along with me. We’ll read one reading per day, following the book, until the final reading on Epiphany. I’ll post reflections from time to time, and I invite you to comment on these posts at any time with your own reflections. Leslie and Pam have graciously invited us to join their podcast chatroom for an Advent chat. I’ll post details of that date and time soon.

It isn’t too late to join the readalong. The book is available as a paperback and as an ebook. You can join at any time.

Thank you for reading. I am grateful for your companionship on this journey.

SR

www.sylvainreynard.com

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About The Author

fluer-de-lisI 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. {More About Sylvain}