Advent Reflections

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 at 9:44 am by Amy Julia Becker

Advent Reflections 2011-12-05T09:44:31-05:00 Amy Julia Becker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Maybe next year I will remember ahead of time to recommend the book I use every Advent: God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas. It’s a beautiful set of daily readings from Scripture combined with color prints of paintings from throughout the ages that correspond with the days’ reading. Each week includes daily reflections by some of my favorite Christian writers and thinkers–Scott Cairns, Kathleen Norris, Richard John Neuhaus, Luci Shaw, Emilie Griffin, and a wonderful introduction by Eugene Peterson. So even if you’re late, you might as well buy it (only $11.98 on Amazon, and this is a beautiful book) and use it for the next few weeks.

You’ll read about the history of Christmas (I forgot that Saint Nicholas was actually a Saint, for instance) and get little nuggets of wisdom that might help in the hustle and bustle and commercial transactions of the next few week. I’ll offer one of those to conclude for today:

Christmas is the giving and receiving of gifts. What a joy. What a hassle. What gifts to give to whom? What gifts to expect in return? The hassle surrenders to gratitude as we, setting aside all calculations of who deserves what, respond by giving as we have been given.

Richard John Neuhaus

Trying to surrender to gratitude this day, as we get ready to celebrate Jesus’ entrance into our world once more.

Faith

advent

Previous Post

December 2, 2011

A Good and Perfect Gift, Revisited

Next Post

December 6, 2011 Too Many Big Rocks

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Articles Books Disability Down Syndrome Faith family Perfectly Human Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz