One of the music leaders in our church came up to me the
other day and asked something like this, “What of the Christmas music are we allowed
to sing before Christmas?” He asked
because he knows I am an Advent zealot.
I eschew the singing of carols until Christmas Eve. I might appear very
Grinch-like:
“The more the Grinch
thought of the Who-Christmas-Sing,
The more the Grinch thought, ‘I must stop this whole thing’”[1]
The more the Grinch thought, ‘I must stop this whole thing’”[1]
I am not wanting to stop Christmas or singing, quite the
contrary. I just want to know Advent
before the Christmas feast starts. In
Advent we remember the coming of Jesus in humility as an infant AND we look to
his coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead. Or that is the intent at least. The
four weeks leading up to Christmas are a time for preparation. Preparation includes cooking and baking as
well as shopping, but it also includes self-examination and reflection. It is
hard to stuff in any reflection when we are rushing ahead to Christmas.
I want to sing Advent hymns like “Lo he comes with clouds
descending” and “Come thou long-expected Jesus.” I am entirely excited about belting out “Joy
to the World” but I first want to squeeze in “Hark! A herald voice is
sounding.” (Any confusion of this Advent
hymn with the obviously Christmas carol, “Hark the herald angels sing” is
understandable, what with “hark” and “herald,” two largely unused “h” words,
appearing in both titles.) Before I rush
to the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus, I think it wise to spend a few moments
considering the Consummation, his glorious coming as judge. My judge.
Others have thought it wise before me. That’s why there is an Advent.
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