It's Advent.....!

Periodically, I feel that it is my responsibility to practice a little “tough love”. As a parent, I am called upon to do this on occasion (about 16-17 times per day); and as a Christian, I must recognize that a big part of loving my neighbor means taking the time to tell him or her that they are a raving moron and that they are in serious need of a reality check. (Message to any Progressive Episcopalians, read Neo-Unitarians, who might be reading this: love does mean sometimes having to tell people the truth whether they want to hear it or not. Sorry, but that’s the way it goes.)

Today is the First Sunday of Advent; the beginning of the season of the Church meant to focus our attention on preparing for the arrival of Sweet Baby Jesus (curse you, Will Ferrell). More than that, however, Advent is a penitential season that gives us an opportunity to prepare ourselves for that day when we will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is a time of prayer and, hopefully, of peace. It is a time of preparation and anticipation. But there is one thing that Advent is not……..

ADVENT IS NOT CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Christmas lights and decorations go on sale in the stores a week or two before Halloween. People are up on ladders hanging said lights and decorations all over their houses the day after Thanksgiving. That same day, hundreds of thousands of crazed, credit card wielding fiends descend on shopping venues all over the nation; driven to a frothy, consumeristic furor by well dressed advertising men whose sole purpose in life is to convince every person who bought an I Phone a year ago that if they don’t buy the new I Phone that just came out, they are a complete loser.

THIS IS NOT CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

Christmas begins on Christmas Eve, and like that funny little song goes, it lasts for twelve whole days. So, contrary to the popular wisdom that drives people to take down their trees and decorations on December 26 and compels radio stations that have spent the last month playing nothing but “Jingle Bell Rock” and “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” by Alvin and the Chipmunks to switch back to their former oldie and moldy pre-programmed programming…………

CHRISTMAS DOESN’T END UNTIL JANUARY 6!!!!!!

But we’ll talk about Epiphany another time. Happy Advent, y’all.