What Advent Has Taught Me (Gaudete Sunday Reflection)
Growing up Catholic again, I have rediscovered Advent. Initially, as I dipped my toes into the tradition of purple and rose candles, I felt uncomfortable. It entailed a focused emphasis on the event of Christmas (Cristes Maesse — or Mass of Christ) rather than the holiday itself. In contrast to our Western culture and its busy, technology-filled lives, Advent seemed out of sync. In this age where everything is at our fingertips, I realized I had taken immediate services for granted. This year, I bought 95% of my Christmas gifts on Amazon, confident in their timely delivery up until December 23rd. The countdown to Christmas became a ticking stopwatch, with days dissolving on the calendar. The convenience of technology, while making Christmas more accessible, did not alleviate the stress and anxiety that accompanies the season.
Advent, in essence, is about waiting and patience, irrespective of one’s belief system. Waiting is an integral part of life, offering gratification in receiving a long-term reward. In Christianity, the end goal is particularly significant; we must wait to witness the grand culmination. Patience redirects the focus from how I feel about the holiday to how I feel about the transformative event — the birth of a child, the creator of my universe, humbling himself and entering the world as a helpless infant. This challenges my beliefs about the holiday, forcing me to reconcile them with consumerism, self-satisfaction, and societal judgments.
Regardless of one’s beliefs, this event changed everything, affecting all religions, believers and non-believers alike.
As a Catholic and Christian (yes, Catholics are Christians), the Bible and the Church teach me the value of waiting. I am encouraged to relinquish immediate gratifications for the promise of a more substantial reward. Self-sacrifice, a cornerstone of the season of giving, demonstrates love for others. Giving, whether tangible or intangible, offers a sense of belonging and value to recipients. It can be a simple gesture like a fist bump, a pat on the back, or a meaningful phone call. Giving time, a non-renewable resource, becomes a central theme. Love, at its core, defines Christianity — how we spend our time and what we do with it.
For me, Advent is a time to build anticipation for something greater than myself. I prepare my home, my family, and even my thoughts for the arrival of the most esteemed guest. Unlike the “one-click buy” ease of acquiring gifts, I can’t distract myself with other pleasures during this wait. I am fully immersed in the anticipation. As I age, the awareness of my mortality grows. I understand that I won’t live forever. What do I hope for, and how am I preparing for the inevitable end? Learning patience has been one of the most challenging endeavors of my mid-life, but it comes without regrets. I now savor this season. Before returning to Catholicism, Christmas marked the end of one year and the hopeful beginning of the next. Now, as a Catholic, the Advent season is the start of a new liturgical and Church year. Week three, Gaudete Sunday, calls for rejoicing in the anticipation — it’s almost time.
