I have dipped my toes in the chaos of the Christmas-before-Advent scene. I\u2019ve been to the mall once. I\u2019ve landed on radio stations that play Christmas music around the clock \u2013 and quickly popped in my Rosary CD to escape the noise. I\u2019ve seen enough of commercialized Christmas\u00a0even though\u00a0I have actively avoided it this year.<\/p>\n
Advent is the only antidote.<\/p>\n
But Advent only comes to those who know how to get quiet. It hides from those who have to hurry. It will never be found in the crowded places and packed spaces of shopping aisles and city crosswalks.<\/p>\n
Advent waits to be invited to your December. It will not show up on its own. It is a polite guest. It will not crash your party.<\/p>\n
Christmas-without-Advent is a fake. An imposter. We all know it.<\/p>\n
The Christmas we all need \u2013 the one we long for \u2013 the one we can imagine so clearly . . . it only comes to those who walk alongside Mary.<\/p>\n
In the quiet.<\/p>\n
Away from the crowds.<\/p>\n
Where Sacred Scripture comes alive and holiness is real.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no mirage \u2013 this Advent journey. It\u2019s necessary. It\u2019s the way to Christmas. The only road to Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
The journey that leads to Christ.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have dipped my toes in the chaos of the Christmas-before-Advent scene. I\u2019ve been to the mall once. I\u2019ve landed on radio stations that play Christmas music around the clock \u2013 and quickly popped in my Rosary CD to escape the noise. I\u2019ve seen enough of commercialized Christmas\u00a0even though\u00a0I have actively avoided it this year. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2224,"featured_media":306,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[13,14,16,88,89,92,93],"class_list":["post-303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-advent","tag-advent-preparation","tag-advent-waiting","tag-christmas","tag-christmas-chaos","tag-christmas-madness","tag-christmas-shopping"],"yoast_head":"\n