Refocusing on Our Mission During Advent
“I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as Isaiah the prophet said” (John 1:23).
Women of Mission: Following the Star
The Advent and Christmas seasons are full of journeys. At the beginning of Advent, we read that Mary, soon after conceiving Jesus, traveled what must have been a very physically challenging journey to stay with her cousin Elizabeth. Then, when we celebrate Christmas, we read about Mary and Joseph’s (again, likely very difficult) journey to Bethlehem, where Mary gave birth to her Son. Finally, at Epiphany, we read about the Wise Men’s journey to meet their Savior.
This year has been a journey. Every year is, but 2020, especially, has felt more arduous and demanding than most that we have seen. Traveling through the last 12 months has left many of us feeling weary, disconnected, and distracted.
However, Advent is a gift, a time for us to remember our mission and why we are traveling this journey as Christians seeking a closer union with our Savior.
As we travel through Advent and begin 2021, allow your eyes and heart to be redirected and transformed by the light of Christ. As Mary, Joseph, and the Wise Men followed the star of Bethlehem, let us focus ourselves this Advent on Jesus, our true star, our hope, our light, and our God.
I get really frustrated when people put up Christmas decorations early. “Slow your roll,” I always think — or say aloud, in my less charitable moments. “Christmas goes until January. You’re cheating yourselves out of the slow burn of Advent followed by weeks of Christmas!”
Accordingly, I’m writing this the day before Thanksgiving, and my house remains stubbornly autumnal and dark, while most of my non-Catholic neighbors’ homes look like that Trans-Siberian Orchestra YouTube video.
The Mission of the Season
I understand that not every Christian who celebrates Christmas celebrates Advent. It’s too bad, however. It’s more than a fun way to get excited for December 25, but even Catholics fall into the trap and lose focus on the mission aspect of this joyous liturgical season.
Advent’s liturgical colors are purple — a penitential color. Drawn in by the lights and the music (which are great; I love them!), we often forget that we’re supposed to be quietly, contemplatively preparing our hearts and homes, and the world, to receive Christ.
Before I put up my Christmas decorations (which I do the first Sunday of Advent, too!), I clean the house. I make sure everything is ready to welcome the decorations. Admittedly, however, I am not always quite as diligent in doing the same with my heart every season.
We can lose track of the mission in all sorts of ways. God gives the Church a mission (you may have heard the saying that the Church doesn’t have a mission — it is a mission with a Church). He also gives each one of us a mission. This mission — to follow Mary’s example and bring Christ into the world — takes place everywhere: at home, at school, and at work.
Of course, missionaries aren’t always popular. There’s always resistance; sometimes, it’s overt, and sometimes, it’s more subtle. Indeed, sometimes the opposition to your mission will be so insidious that it will occur in your very heart, soul, and mind.
Eliminating Distractions and Regaining Focus
This heart, soul, and mind — those things with which we are to love God (Matthew 22:37) — may be the exact things the enemies of your mission will attack to undermine your work. Just as the glitz and glamor of Christmas celebrations, which are not inherently bad, threaten the peace and penitential nature of Advent, you may find other goods that distract from your mission.
Moreover, you may find that you are worse than distracted. You may find you begin to doubt your mission. Slowly, you may find yourself questioning your abilities, talents, or personal and professional relationships. Perhaps, you might think to yourself, you totally misunderstood what God wanted for you, and you’re in the wrong field, the wrong place … maybe you’re even the wrong person for the job.
Now, it is entirely possible that God wants you somewhere else. A good spiritual director can help you discern exactly in which mission field the Holy Spirit is prompting you to work. In the absence of access to a spiritual director, ask the Spirit to show you where you’re supposed to be. Then, listen!
If you haven’t already, consider some devotional practices to make your Advent less of a four-week Christmas sugar binge and more of a time of introspective meditation. Familiarize yourself with the Rule of St. Benedict for inspiration to infuse your work with prayer to ensure that you’re fully doing God’s will. As St. Benedict says, “First of all, every time you begin a good work, you must pray to him most earnestly to bring it to perfection.” Things like a daily rosary, the Surrender Novena, Adoration, and, of course, frequenting the sacraments can make all the difference.
Whenever possible, treat this Advent like a retreat that will strengthen you and prepare you to return to your mission, well-rested and joyful.
Maggie Phillips is a freelance writer and military spouse with three small children and an incredibly patient husband. Follow her work at mrsmaggiephillips.com and on Instagram at @maggies_words.