Advent is Finding the Sacred in the Everyday

I belong to a liturgical church.

Each time we get together, we remember part of our story and we share a meal. One of the things that make us “liturgical” is that we follow an annual pattern of the parts of our story we remember called the “liturgical year.” Each year has something in common with other years; each year is unique.

Our liturgical years have seasons, just like regular calendar years. Each season focuses on a theme, like “the holidays” or “hockey season.”

We are at the beginning of the first season of a new liturgical year, sort of our New Year’s Day.

The first season of our liturgical year is called Advent. Advent sets the tone for the rest of the year. The theme of Advent is finding the Sacred in the Everyday.

We remind ourselves about the Sacred life all around us with everyday things. We use light and water, candles and bread, music, wine, and words to remember.

Advent begins slowly. Like the dawn of each new morning, Advent reminds us that light already exists. Daylight has not gone away; we just do not see it yet. Our liturgical year, our entire spiritual journey, is filled with opportunities to remember that the light is still there.

In the middle of a great darkness, we begin to see first light.

Each year, we remind ourselves that there is light. We light another candle each week of Advent. The light grows in the darkness each week, reminding us that the Sacred is always with us.

Our year begins in the cold darkness. Slowly, we remember and the fire of the Sacred comes into our lives again.

Do you see the first glow of the dawning light?

Where do you see the Sacred in the Everyday?

[Image by Christopher Bulle]