The Rhythm of Advent
The Rhythm of Advent
To me, there is no other season on the church calendar that is as grounded in rhythm as Advent. With Advent, the longseason of Ordinary Time/The Season After Pentecost comes to a close. I have heard folks refer to Ordinary Time as the “never-ending sea of green.” But with Advent, not only do we switch out our green vestments and altar hangings for violet (or blue), we also mark time in other ways as well.
The Advent Wreath is a visual way of marking time as we prepare for the coming of Christ. The four candles on the perimeter remind us that this season is not like the last one – it is only four weeks long. And when we light a new candle each week, we are marking time and keeping rhythm in a very distinct, sacramental way. We can clearly see “where we are” in the measure of time.
Advent calendars are another means for marking and keeping time during this holy season. Rather than marking the week, we mark the days until the Feast of the Incarnation. This is helps us prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ (not Santa Claus) in our hearts, minds, bodies, and homes.
Our scripture lessons – both in the Daily Office and Daily/Weekly Eucharistic lectionaries – also help us mark time during the season of Advent. Much of the scripture lessons are prophesies from the Old Testament (mostly Isaiah) as well as from John the Baptizer, who serves as the bridge between the old and new covenants. After a very long season of Ordinary Time lectionary readings, when we finally hear John’s voice crying out in the wilderness, we are “jarred awake” and reminded that time is shifting.
The music during Advent is another way of unsettling us, so to speak. It feels and sounds different than the music we have been hearing and singing the last several months. The lyrical themes shift as well, as the focus becomes on the prophetic messages of penitence, hope, and expectation.
As we continue to navigate through this holy season of Advent, let us tap in to the rhythm of the season. As I have pointed out, there are many ways to do so – some more cerebral, some more sensory. But let us be sure that as we synchronize with the rhythm of the season, we also synchronize into the grace that comes with the rhythm. The rhythm doesn’t exist for itself. The changes in the liturgy and in the decorations are meant to stir up our hearts and minds so that we can be better attuned to God’s grace as we await the coming of Christ.
Advent blessings and Peace!
Richard+