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.
I’m still thinking about the inward journey of Advent. That part of the path where we check in with ourselves to uncover the status of our heart at this time of year.
I experienced a series of “visions” many years ago during a month of meditation sessions. At first, I was walking along a residential street pausing to notice an old house. The yard was overgrown with weeds, the walkway cracked, the fence in disrepair. But I was fascinated. A few days later, I decided to enter (thinking either Jung or Scooby Doo?). A door drew my attention. Eventually, I opened the door. It was, of course, to the cellar. A guide appeared, and we descended the stairs.
I was introduced to visualizations of every kind of sin. The experience told me that within myself, I was capable of all sin. And, that is true. I may not perform every sin, but I realize that I am capable if I slide that direction.
[The series of meditations continued to where the cellar experience changed from revealing my weaknesses to celebrating acceptance into a huge party of every type and kind of God’s children. We are all people to be loved and served.]
The desert fathers of the early church studied the evil passions. They have taught me about self-awareness of the presence of the passions (emotions or destructive thoughts) and ways of mitigating them.
We cannot stop thoughts from entering our minds and guts. It’s whether we let them fester and grow or deal with them that determines our life stance.
Evagrius Ponticus, one of these early desert fathers, compiled a list of these passions—eight in number. A later Pope called Gregory the Great reformulated them as the Seven Deadly Sins.
These eight, you ask?
Evagrius emphasized achieving apatheia—freedom from destructive passions—as a goal of the spiritual life. Not emotional numbness, but freedom from being controlled by passions
Check out the list. Which are we prone to sit in? How can becoming aware of these propel you to seek the words of Jesus that will free us from wallowing in these destructive passions?
Advent—a time to prepare our hearts for the coming (or re-entry?) of Jesus.
I have called myself a follower of Jesus for decades. Preparing myself for Christmas and the idea of entering anew into a relationship with him, I’ve been researching and reflecting on obstacles. After today’s thoughts, I’ll take a look at Evagrius’s list of eight “evil passions” reflecting on how they impact me (and probably you).
I am reflecting today on an ancient poem that I first saw perhaps some 62 years ago. I am still reflecting on the meaning of this for me. Which of these am I? I hope for four. Maybe realistically one? I know that it took years to wake up in the following sense.
He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool…shun him.
He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student…teach him.
He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep…wake him.
He who knows and knows that he knows is wise…follow him.
Life seems to give us many in category one who think they are in category four. Learn discernment. I hope that we (you and I) are not a fool. I consider myself a continuing student. Who among my readers need to awaken? There is surely one who is wise.
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 6th 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?
Let us consider humility. Not a word we can associate with today, living as we do influenced by Silicon Valley’s macho culture. A culture that affects women along with men along with adolescents.
When was the last time you (or I) admitted that you (or I) were wrong about something?
If it’s been longer than 30 days back, perhaps you (and I) have a problem.
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’Tis the day after Thanksgiving (in America), and how do you feel?
Did you eat do much that your sleep was disturbed?
My go-to for Christian advice on living (mixed with a dose of modern common sense) are the Desert Fathers. Yes, they were a weird group. Yet, they had such deep insights.
I consulted them about gluttony.
The desert fathers considered gluttony one of the first passions to be conquered because control over bodily appetites was seen as foundational to spiritual progress. They believed that if someone couldn’t master their appetite for food, they would struggle with more subtle temptations.
During the 4th-6th Centuries, fasting was commonplace among monks. However, many emphasized moderation. Eat only what is necessary to sustain life. Eat at set times (I write as I eye the basket of potato chips across the room where I’m writing this).
The fathers saw gluttony as slavery to bodily desires and a lack of self-control that would manifest in other areas. It is an obstacle to clear thinking and spiritual discernment.
The goal is freedom from obsession with food, not punishing the body.
Evagrius Ponticus, one of the most systematic of the desert fathers, listed gluttony first among the eight evil thoughts (which later became the seven deadly sins in Western Christianity), showing how fundamental they considered this struggle.
So, one large celebration meal with family and friends is hardly gluttony. It just makes you sick. Dwelling on the thought of food—well, that’s something to watch out for.
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Today is celebrated in America as Thanksgiving Day. Somewhat based on a story (true or not, doesn’t matter) about the English settlers in what’s now called New England celebrating surviving a year plus a harvest. We celebrate with family dinners and the traditional turkey.
Some people will have a struggle this year. Family members who passed away. Relationships strained due to politics, gender identity, sharp words thoughtlessly spoken.
Perhaps stories of things that have happened or people who came into our lives could help ease the pain. Perhaps pausing our hot buttons and listening to the stories of others would help. Perhaps just being generous and serving.
Perhaps serving others today. There are community Thanksgiving dinners where homeless and less privileged people are served a decent meal.
Mostly, pausing to remember all for which we should be grateful and often overlook.
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving no matter what.
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Gary Mintchell
Faith Venture 