It is now, when the world around us is speeding into a frenzy of shopping and parties and plans, that the Church reminds us of the truth about eternity and time.  She puts before us a a wreath shaped in a circle to remind us God has no beginning and no end.  He is forever.  He made time for us and the candles help us to mark off the passing days of preparation intentionally – as we ought to pass all of our days.

As was quoted in an old movie my daughter and I watched this weekend, it is the worst sort of extravagance to waste the chances we are given, assuming another will come along, and another and another.  God is eternal.  Our opportunities are not. Advent is our annual reset opportunity. We turn the calendar of the church back to the beginning, a fresh start.  We begin the new church year focused on Jesus, rebirth, and renewal, a good way to begin each day and each endeavor. 

“…(it is a) puzzling fact that the more time-saving gadgets we invent, the more new buttons to push in order to “save hours of work”–the less time we actually have.

We have no more time to read books; we can only afford digests. We have no time to walk a quarter of a mile; we have to hop into a car. We have no time to make things by hand; we buy them ready made in the five-and-ten or in the supermarket. This atmosphere of “hurry up, let’s go” does not provide the necessary leisure in which to anticipate and celebrate a feast. But as soon as people stop celebrating they really do not live any more–they are being lived, as it were.

The alarming question arises: what is being done with all the time that is constantly being saved? We invent more machines and more gadgets, which will relieve us more and more from the work formerly done by our hands, our feet, our brain, and which will carry us in feverishly increasing speed–where? Perhaps to the moon and other planets, but more probably to our final destruction.

Only the Church throws light onto the gloomy prospects of modern man–Holy Mother Church–for she belongs, herself, to a realm that has its past and present in Time, but its future in the World Without End."

– Maria Von Trapp

It is not a luxury to slow down right when it feels as though we should be moving faster. It is a necessary leisure, without which we will miss the most valuable gifts the season offers. It is not about doing less or being less productive, but about doing things differently with clarity and thoughtfulness.  It is about keeping the why firmly in focus. 

  Today, we will assemble our advent wreath. Simply, slowly, intentionally. It has been a very full holiday weekend and the week promises no respite in that regard. The wreath will anchor our days this month and ensure that at some point in every 24hrs we will come together, light the fire, and breathe deeply.  

Jesus is coming.  We are so blessed.  

Advent wreath explained here