One of the gifts of our Church is the way that our rituals are folded into the rhythm of life. So it is with the season of Advent. In our Liturgical practice, Advent is really the doorstep to Christmas and its celebrations. Advent points to and reminds us that “He” is coming. In a time when the year retreats into early darkness the light is not gone. It’s not lost, it’s coming. If you have been Catholic for a while, you have had the Advent experience before. The idea of waiting, anticipation and looking forward are all familiar to you. Maybe you rely on Advent to move you toward Christmas in a way that challenges your organization skills, maybe not. Maybe you rely on Advent to convince your children to be good at least for a couple of weeks. Maybe advent stirs up the fact in you that another whole year has passed and you have still not accomplished A, B or C.
It would be my guess, however, that you have not examined your Advent vocabulary any time in recent history. Somewhere in our subconscious we become comfortable with the idea that Advent is one more season that moves forward, whether we like it or not, and that the idea of repenting is part of that. Repentance is the theme that Advent really centers on. This year we are once again reminded that John the Baptist was really at the fore of the action when it comes to anticipating the Lord. We know that his outrageous preaching and teaching is the reason for the focus on repentance. This was his unwavering message from the moment he first hit the Jordan until he was beheaded for preaching his message. So, we take the language of repentance with us. We are surrounded by the idea from the beginning to the end of Advent.
Because of the vocabulary correcting programs on our devices and the neglect of the teaching of Grammar our concept of word has become pretty lazy and uninformed. Here’s a shocker for you: The machines are not always right! As the idea of repentance drifts by our consciousness we don’t give it a second or third thought. Nice idea, I’ll try, maybe. How many times, though, during Advent have you really stopped to contemplate or consider your behavior regarding repentance. If you go to confession once, is that repentance? If you go to reconciliation every week is that repentance? If you buy your eternally cranky neighbor a nice gift is that repentance? If you speak to your mother-in-law after three years of silence for her insult, is that repentance? Maybe, maybe not.
Repentance is more complicated than simply doing a one-time action. As a matter of fact, that might be the farthest thing from repentance as east is from west. What Advent and John call us to is a deeper reaching concept. It is an opportunity from the Church to re-think and emerge a different person, a better person. Repentance really has two dimensions; change and transformation. Change is the easy part. It’s buying that gift or giving up swearing or going to reconciliation. Change is what we can do that is visible and doable that other people can look at and point to. Transformation, though is the part of repentance that no one sees. It is an alteration in your personal willingness to follow the Word of God and to do what he wants regardless of your like or dislike of it. It’s really what defines Advent.
So, has someone looked you in the eye this Advent and told you: “You know, there’s something different about you this Advent.” ? If the answer is yes, be joyful. That is the tangible reality of repentance. It produces fruit that others can perceive but not quite put their finger on. No one has asked you that question yet? No worries, Advent is not over yet. Seize the opportunity!
Copyright© 2016, Kathryn M. Cunningham
Kathryn M. Cunningham
Kathryn holds a Master’s in Education from Saint Xavier University. Most recently she completed Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from The Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. This recent degree was part of a “retirement project” after teaching for 35 years. She has also worked as a spiritual director, music minister,council member and prayer team warrior. Kathryn has a deep interest in catechesis for the people in the pews. As a “sort of” convert she finds the wisdom of the Church a source for encouragement, joy and survival in a world not sure of anything. Her writing has appeared in diocesan publications and on-line sites, most recently for Zenit. To learn more about Kathryn check out her thinking at: www.atravelersview.org">ATravelersView.org.
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