A monthly letter from the Glenmary Vocation Office

December 2007

Keeping Advent

December can be a challenging month for a Catholic. Our Church calendar indicates that December begins a new Church year, but the secular calendar marks the New Year as Jan. 1. Our Church calendar holds that Dec. 2-24 marks the Advent season and the Christmas season begins Dec. 25 and ends Jan. 13. But the secular world began the Christmas season way before Thanksgiving and it will end Christmas on Dec. 26 or Jan. 2 at the latest. Maybe more than any other time of the year, Catholics experience their counter-cultural stance towards the secular society during the Christmas holiday.

Yet, as the Gospel of John states, we are “in” the world and not “of” the world. (John 17:14-19). If we live Advent in a very strict way and do not wish folks a “Merry Christmas,” avoid all early Christmas parties and do not sing any Christmas carols, we may be perceived as some type of Scrooge, a “bah hum bug” kind a person.

So how do we balance keeping the Advent season while still participating in society’s celebration of a joyful Christmas?

As Glenmary Home Missioners, this is our daily question. We are Catholics, in love with Jesus and dedicated to witness to his presence in the world. We are minorities surrounded by other Christians and folks with little structured faith, if any. We are committed to proclaim a loving, merciful God that welcomes all of those around us in a credible way regardless of their faith. Not only at Advent, but at all times, we are trying to give a clear message of the truth of Jesus Christ as Catholic believers.

No two Glenmarians approach this beautiful task in the same way. Some lean towards an approach of strong Catholic identity and through this witness others will be moved to follow. They might place Advent wreaths in prominent places, place a Jesse Tree outside the church or put up the crib scene without any figures. If someone wishes them “Merry Christmas” they may respond, “Happy Advent.” They hope that people question these differences and in doing so open up a door for dialogue. They use these questions as an entrance to educate others on our Catholic beliefs with love and gentleness.

Others may lean to fuller participation of the religious elements of Christmas celebrations before the end of Advent. They may decorate the outside of the church with lights, place a full nativity set outside, and attend many Christmas parties and sing-a-longs at other Christian churches. They might see this as adapting to the local culture and joining in the celebration of the season. In this way, they are building unity among Christians (an important value for Glenmarians) and communicating that Catholics are Christians and do believe in Jesus. In other words, Catholics are not some strange or foreign sect.

Again, is one approach better than another? I doubt it. As in so much of life, there are not always simple formulas to balance the complexities of life, even something as simple as keeping Advent. What may be most important is to witness to the religious message of Christ during Advent and Christmas and to avoid the secularization and materialism of the season.

Regardless of how one resolves the question of keeping Advent in the midst of cultural Christmas, the importance is to make an attempt. The importance is to witness to one’s faith in a manner that is gentle, respectful and cheerful.

These next four weeks are your opportunity to witness to your faith and evangelize your neighbors. You can do this without pouting or being preachy. Do not miss your opportunity to be a missioner to your neighbor. It might be the best gift you give them and yourself.