There is Christmas shopping for countless relatives and friends. There are holiday concerts and the many rehearsals that accompany them. Just getting our home ready can be a full-time job in itself. But as the calendar year begins to draw to a close, a new year begins. For us and all others who call themselves Christian, today begins a new year.
Today is the first day of a new Christian year.
Today is the first Sunday of Advent. In my own life, Advent represents something of a paradox. Advent is a season of preparation, contemplation, waiting, and silence. It is a time when we are called to be still and to contemplate the darkness that is a part of each and every one of our lives. With Advent also comes a sense of hope.