Faith Venture

Official Advent readings include the story of the birth of John the Baptizer. He was the forerunner or preparer of the way for Jesus. And also his cousin.

We can consider John as the start, the first lesson, of Jesus’s ministry.

I thought of this when I recently heard this old Sufi story.

A person wanted to learn to play the flute. A woman in town plays and teaches the flute. The person goes to her house and knocks at her door. 

“I would like to learn to play the flute. Can you teach me?” 

“Yes, I can. The first lesson is 20 rialis. All the rest are 10.” 

“Great,” came the reply. “Let’s start with lesson two.”

But, you can’t begin with lesson two. The first lesson is important. The first lesson is the first lesson, not the second.

And the first lesson about a crucial meaning for the coming of Jesus?

John lived in the wilderness and preached, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is around us.”

Repent—perhaps an emotion-laden word these days. Translate it as—change your ways. Instead of living like you have been, choose the better way, the way of living in God’s Kingdom.

How are you (we) living? Would it be better if you (we) changed our direction? Even just a little?

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Americans are perhaps the most generous people in the world. Americans of almost every political and religious persuasion contribute generously to many charities especially at this time of year.

Making a special effort toward generosity at this time of year builds a strong sense of well-being and happiness as part of our Advent preparations.

This attitude will enhance our lives throughout the coming year.

As we act, so we become. We can say together—we are someone who lives with generosity.

We modern Christians have a section of our Scripture called the Old Testament. Why do we have the Jewish scriptures bound with writings about Jesus and how to live a new life with Jesus as our guide?

The first generations of Jesus Followers scoured Hebrew writings looking for signs of Jesus. They pulled out every quote they could find. I’m sure Jewish scholars were aghast at the interpretations. But it served the early Christians well.

Today’s readings during Advent still look at passages from Isaiah or perhaps when Moses said there would be a prophet greater than he.

We will also retell the stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth and Joseph and Mary. The stories of that unique character—John the Baptizer.

These also are stories adding to our anticipation of the birth of Jesus.

Perhaps best told by Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas (from 1965).

(Following up on the last two pieces thinking through Advent.)

Preparation. Waiting. Hope. Joy.

Perhaps my wife’s (and all of you like her) joy of decorating and bringing out the special things is a form of that preparation for Christmas? 

Everything is laid out around the house in anticipation of the day.

There is joy in familiar music played only in December.

The anticipation of special church services. I had Catholic friends who found great joy at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. We Protestants typically have a less formal service but conclude with candles and singing Silent Night.

I accuse others, especially academics, of thinking too much. Perhaps I do, too.

As I write this, the first heavier snow of the year is falling. Forecasters are calling for 5 inches. It’s a white landscape outside my study window. Yet, there must be 100 blackbirds gathering and flying and playing in the snow.

Maybe it’s all about gathering and playing. And not worrying so much. In the end, we will notice daylight time growing. Another anticipation—spring and coming warmth.

(Following yesterday’s thoughts.)

Advent 2025 began on Sunday November 30 thanks to a ruling by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6^th Century. Fifteen centuries later, here we are.

People expect a month of Christmas carols. The official church music calendar for Advent does not include those. Traditional Advent music is more introspective, almost melancholy. 

Advent traditionally calls for a change of heart. We are to examine our lives over the past year. Perhaps asking God’s (and other’s?) forgiveness for our transgressions and slights ant thoughtlessness. We are to prepare our hearts for welcoming the coming of Jesus some 2,000 years ago.

But also welcoming Jesus now. Someone, I’ve forgotten who, wrote that the first generation of Jesus Followers sat a chair aside at their gatherings for Jesus. They felt his presence in their midst. Jesus among us, now.

I’ve never been able to wrap my mind around the Second Coming. Traditionally that is the third welcoming of Jesus—the anticipation of Jesus’s return to earth in order to establish his kingdom in the New Earth promised by certain apocryphal writers.

The question for us during Advent—are we preparing to experience the presence of Jesus?

I’m pretty poor about acknowledging the official “Church Calendar.” I never darkened the doorway of a seminary. My training, such as it was, came only from attending various churches.

I know the Christmas season, though. My wife exhibits a burst of creative busyness as she decorates for Christmas. She just shone with joy at bringing out the Christmas plates and coffee mugs. The window boxes at windows facing the cul-de-sac sport greenery and lights with electric candles in the windows. One tree is up. The second one shortly. All the fall and Thanksgiving stuff is put away awaiting my climbing the ladder to store the boxes.

Stores have displayed Christmas stuff for some time now. Retailers depend upon Christmas buying shopping for their annual profits. Friday after Thanksgiving, the restaurant at Wabash and Adams in Chicago played secular Christmas music over the noise of lively conversations.

There’s joy at familiar music. Joy with familiar decorations. Stress at attending many parties. Stress from searching for the perfect gifts. Stress at strained family bonds.

Is this Advent?