Advent Reflections Week 1

Beware the Cheeseball 

By Pastor Susan 

Our 2023-24 church calendar just ended with observing the feast or festival of Christ the King  Sunday. Now comes the season of Advent, which is technically a penitential or fasting time in  the church calendar. Advent, in the more orthodox church streams, is sometimes considered a  

“little Lent,” where believers are called to self-reflection, prayer, and preparation for the feast of  Christmas by fasting, (kind of like some of us might refrain from eating on Thanksgiving to  “make room” for the grand meal).  

During Advent, we often get caught up with decorating, cookie exchanges, white elephant gift  exchanges, office Christmas parties, pageants, and the like. In fact, some stores have displayed  Christmas decorations since July! Even the non-church world wants to extend the celebratory  

feel of Christmas, and that’s pretty much human nature, right? We want to gorge on the good  stuff and limit or avoid the bad stuff – like green bean casserole (sorry if that’s your favorite!).  The beauty of the church calendar is that it reflects how we experience our real lives that include  both celebratory and solemn times. For some people, this season is difficult because it brings on  reminders of loss, loneliness, or need.  

To fast during this time leading up to Christmas is a good way for us to remember that even as  we know the celebration is coming, the world is not as it should be yet. Nor are we. We are still  in the process of our transformation from sinners to saints. We need a savior-king who heals all  our diseases, forgives our iniquities, and draws us out of the pits we fall into. By fasting during  Advent, we can practice mourning with those who mourn because our king also is close to the  

broken-hearted. Fasting might even help us resist the temptations of over-indulgence and  consumerism that pulls us from the Kingdom into the world.  

So, before we feast and celebrate the birth of our glorious King, perhaps we might benefit from  “making room” by fasting somehow. I’m not suggesting staying home from parties or  participating in Secret Santa activities. We don’t have to be religious Grinches. But perhaps it  might do us well to consider what we can refrain from for a time to remind us of our own  spiritual poverty, and that there’s still a lot of the world that does not share the hope we have.  Maybe there’s a food or comfort or practice that you can fast from. Or, perhaps you can sacrifice  some time for additional prayer or Scripture reading. Sometimes even meditating on a piece of  religious art is helpful.  

The point is that we don’t want to celebrate too soon and be full like the inn was when Mary and  Joseph showed up. We need to make room for Jesus by reflecting, remembering, preparing, and  praying so that when it’s time to party, we haven’t filled up on the cheeseball and miss out on  savoring the meal. We want our souls to be able to fully enjoy all the blessings of celebrating our  King who was, who is, and who is to come. Amen!