A brief meditation designed to snap you back into the restoring power of God’s love.
2025-12-21
Advent and Christmas Every Day
This Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Advent. If you are following our messages these days, you know that Advent is a season of expectation in which we celebrate Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, four blessings that come only through the Incarnate Son of God, Jesus. Advent is our preparation for Christmas, and Christmas is our celebration of the past, present, and future coming of Jesus.
That is what the season is about. Yet many distractions have been created to take our attention away from Jesus, not only at this time of year but throughout our lives. Some of those distractions are not bad in themselves, but they are not the reason for our celebration. Santa Claus, presents, Christmas trees and decorations, family gatherings, traditional music, etc., might be harmless in themselves; however, they don’t always tell the story, the good news of the Gospel, of Jesus’ hope, peace, joy and love breaking into the darkness of this world.
One of our scheduled readings for this Sunday may not seem like an Advent reading, but it is a clear example of how a mind constantly focused on Jesus’ coming thinks. Here is the apostle Paul, offering one of his typical greetings:
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, (Romans 1:1-7).
Please read it again and try to answer the question, Who is Jesus? I’m always fascinated by how much Paul says in just one paragraph. He always defined himself by his relationship with Jesus. And the Gospel—the Good News of Jesus Christ—ruled his entire life. He shared the good news every day on his many journeys, through his activities, and even in prison. He knew that in Jesus, we all, Jews and non-Jews, can receive the grace of God that enables us to believe and share in His resurrection by belonging to Him. Paul wanted everyone to welcome Jesus into their lives.
That’s what Advent and Christmas are about. There is no point in celebrating and enjoying special dinners and events if the hearts of those celebrating are not open to the coming of Jesus and to “the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.” Christmas, the coming of Jesus, must remain with us throughout our lives as we invite others to embrace the Gospel. That’s the real celebration.
May you have a blessed Christmas that lasts your whole life!
Alvaro Palacio.
GCI Toronto East 