Reason for the Season | celebrating Christmas | family life | Advent
What I only aim at is this: that we see Him, and remain with Him, to whom we are speaking, without turning our backs on Him. For I think that is what we do when we keep talking to God while thinking about a thousand trifles at the same time. --Teresa of Avila
The above quote from Saint Teresa of Avila just about sums up my Advent season on an annual basis. I rush around thinking about a thousand trifles at the same time and talking to God in urgent snippets which usually consist of complaints and pleas. To be honest, I don’t talk to Him, I talk at Him. I get too wrapped up in the Christmas whirlwind of tasks, responsibilities, activities, and events to have a decent conversation with God. I joke to myself that, thankfully, Catholics celebrate a whole season that only begins on Christmas Day. But that only increases the amount of stuff I pack into my to-do list and calendar. And I keep thinking about a thousand trifles at the same time. Because of that, I miss out on the great gift of time with God in prayer.
I hold Saint Paul partly responsible for that. As a young mother, his words in his first letter to the Thessalonians were my mantra. “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thes 5:16-18) I used that passage to justify over-activity, overwhelm, and exhaustion. I told myself that everything I did was a prayer if I offered it to God, that I was doing God’s will, and I needn’t worry about quality prayer time. Back then, it was mostly true. Caring for my growing family was paramount to anything else including focused prayer. We certainly can make a prayer out of everything we do even during the chaotic Christmas season. But we can’t let that become our modus operandi.
Because of Him
No matter how busy, tired, or stressed we are, we must find a way to put those thousand trifles aside if only for a few minutes a day. During that precious time, we need to really see God and remain with Him without turning our backs on Him to tend to something else (unless it’s a child in need, of course). Although Christmas Time can be the hardest period to do that, in certain ways it is the easiest. There is no other time of the year that we decorate as lavishly and have within our ready view as many religious symbols. The creche, Christmas tree, figurines, wreaths, candles, garlands, and the carols playing all remind us of the Birth of Christ. Even secular songs and decorations can be a reminder to us that we are celebrating the coming of the Messiah. Had Jesus not been born, no one ever would have put up a Christmas decoration or composed a carol. It all exists because of Him. If we allow it, these things can draw us into productive prayer.
Christmas is a precious blessing, not only because it marks the Birth of Jesus but also because it is a sacred time that offers us abundant opportunities to meditate on the Divine Mystery. Prayer is a gift because it allows us to spend one-on-one time with our Lord, to pour our hearts out to Him and listen for his sweet, gentle voice within our souls. The best part is that we don’t have to make an appointment for time with God. He is always there, waiting for us and eager to spend time with us. Even if it’s only a few minutes here and there amid a thousand trifles.