Ushering in the Light

The readings today, on this first Sunday of Advent, focus on the themes of light and being prepared for the coming of the Savior – both beautiful and fitting for this liturgical season! 

The start of Advent creates space for us to ponder what preparations we are called to in this season. Like many mothers of small children, I am the primary Christmas magic maker in our home. There are gifts to purchase and wrap, cookies to bake, trees to trim, and endless Christmas songs to sing loudly. But how am I preparing myself and my family for the coming of our Savior?

As the readings remind us, the coming of the Savior both was and will be unexpected. We are called to be vigilant in our preparations for him, to stay awake and be ready for his arrival. While the passages from Isaiah, Romans, and Matthew focused on light as a contrast to night, those of us in the Northern hemisphere are quickly approaching the winter solstice which marks the longest night of the year. 

Advent has always felt especially meaningful to me in these days of extended darkness. Gathering as a family around our worn kitchen table and lighting the candles of our Advent wreath feels as though we are ushering in something gentle, sacred, and desperately needed. In these days of darkness, the warmth and light of Christ’s coming beckon us home with hope, peace, joy, and love.  

The simple practice of ushering light into our home through lighting the advent wreath nightly has helped to ground me in this busy season of tinsel and twinkle. It serves as a reminder that within the bustle of the season, our hearts long to prepare for the coming of Christ. 

As the passage in Isaiah concludes “let us walk in the light of Lord,” we too are asked to walk in and reflect the light of Christ. For my family, that looks like slowing down in the evenings, drawing near to one another, and reading a passage from the nativity story as we light our advent candles. It is nothing groundbreaking, but it is a steady ritual that has become incredibly dear and meaningful. A practice that intentionally shines light in the darkness, prepares our hearts for the coming of the Savior, and reminds us of the hope we hold both in Christ who has come and our God who will come again. Wishing you each a blessed Advent! 

Today's Readings

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Alli is a freelance writer, a mother of two spunky girls, and a recent graduate of Fuller Seminary where she achieved her master’s in theology. Cherishing a love of everyday spirituality, women in scripture, and the healing power of connection through words, she seeks to craft essays and prayers that engage and uplift. You can follow her work through subscribing to her Substack The Pondering Heart.