Chaplain's Reflection

Alert Against Sin  

Right at the beginning of the Bible, we are told that every human is an image of God, a sacred being who represents the Creator and is worthy of respect. So, sin is a failure to love our Creator, humanity, and all creation as directed. 

Many of us hear today’s gospel (Mk 13:33-37) and we think, too, right! It is warning those (other) sinners not to defy God or misbehave. Hazardously, though, we might just relax in the comforting thought that we aren’t like that. We’re unlike those murderers, thieves, adulterers and blasphemers we see on the News and in popular media. We are above all that. We are alert and awake, we won’t make those mistakes! Hmmm!

Hopefully, that is so, but sadly, we then admit we might commit some minor sins, just “little white lies”, or cheating the tax man. “Just the things that everyone else is doing ….. so they must be ok. But those “small” sins are the ones that get past when our attention is distracted. When we are busy playing cool, being caught up in “what’s happening now?”, keeping up with the Joneses, avoiding ridicule rather than standing up to poor behaviour, going along with inappropriate banter, allowing injustice to prevail without trying to prevent it. The more we tolerate and justify our own “small” sins, the closer we are to “big” sins.

Advent is about preparation for Christ’s coming, about late spring cleaning of our spiritual houses. Under the guidance of Mark’s gospel, Advent is an opportunity to reflect on our inner lives, to look beyond the commercial rubbish that threatens to overtake Christmas and to re-commit ourselves to faithfully and watchfully waiting for Jesus coming. Advent is a chance to get our lives back on track, to refocus on allowing Jesus into our hearts, to make us the people He calls us to be. 

Advent Traditions Around the World

Wreaths, candles and calendars. These are sure signs of Advent for many Christian groups around the world. But what is Advent exactly?

The word Advent derives from the Latin adventus, which means an arrival or visit. Advent is the beginning of the spiritual year for many churches, and it is observed over the four Sundays before Christmas Day. 

Spiritually, it is meant as a celebration of the Earthly birth of Jesus around 2,000 years ago but also a preparation and anticipation for the second coming of Christ.

In 2023, Advent starts Sunday, December 3. Each Sunday has a different spiritual theme and often involves the ceremonial lighting of an Advent candle.

Here are some Advent and general Christmas traditions in various countries around the world. 

• Austria is the birthplace of one of the most beloved Christmas hymns, “Silent Night.” The hymn is called “Stille Nacht” in German (the native language of Austrians), and it was penned during the Christmas of 1818. At Advent and Christmas, it is joyfully and lustily sung throughout Austria. 

• China might not immediately come to mind when you think of Advent, but roughly 5.1 % of the population of 1.41 billion is Christian, that’s almost 72 million people. Chinese Christians light up their homes with colourful paper lanterns during Advent, and you might find red paper pagodas cut out and placed in windows. An emerging Christmas tradition is the giving of apples , sometimes sold in stores wrapped in coloured paper.

• About 86% of the people in Croatia are Catholics, and Advent is a big part of the religious life here. Preparations for Christmas actually begin before Advent on November 25, which is Sveta Kata  (St. Catherine’s Day). Prva adentska nedjelja  (or Advent Sunday) is the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and the first of four candles in the Advent wreath is lit.

• Families across Germany set up an Advent wreath with four candles, one for each week of Advent. They may gather around the wreath each Sunday to sing carols and light another candle. Stollen, which is similar to fruitcake, is one of the oldest Christmas treat traditions in Germany. Advent calendars calendars may hold chocolate treats behind little doors for German children.

• Advent in Mexico brings the religious ceremonies known as Las Posadas  (Spanish for “The Inns.”) This nine-day celebration that marks the journey of Mary and Joseph is held from December 16 to 24. Each evening in cities and villages across Mexico, a child dressed as an angel leads a processional, usually made up of children. They go to selected homes, where they are denied entry but often given refreshments. This custom is followed in some parts of the United States, too.

• United Kingdom has a relatively new tradition observing Christingles, meaning both a symbolic item; an orange decorated with a candle, red tape and sweets and a Christingles service involving prayers, readings and singing and serving as a fundraiser for children’s charities. It can be held at the start of Advent all the way to Candlemas. Salisbury Cathedral is well known for its Advent liturgies. 

Deacon Mark Kelly

College Chaplain