First Sunday of Advent
Now Christians begin to get ready for Christmas. Our preparations have a penitential character. That is to say, there is a focus on self-denial as an expression of repentance. Churches, for example, have moderate, limited decorations. This is not a season of exuberance and celebration. It’s only Advent. Christmas will come, but, until then, we must work at denying some of our personal comforts.
Think of it this way: if your friend is preparing a special party in your honor, with wonderful food and drink, it would be bad manners for you to have a big meal right before going to the party. How disappointed your friend would be when you said you were already stuffed with food and actually need to take a little nap. Clearly, you are expected to show up awake and hungry and ready to celebrate. With Christmas, it is the same. To celebrate the nativity of Jesus Christ to its fullest, we have to show up awake and hungry.
Discipline is what’s called for now. Discipline. Unlike Lent, the Church does not mandate any disciplinary practices, so it’s up to you. Consider what Saint Ignatius Loyola says in the Spiritual Exercises: “To avoid disorder concerning foods, abstinence may be practiced in two ways: First, by accustoming oneself to eat coarser foods; Secondly, if delicacies are taken, to eat of them only sparingly.”
Yes, many people can’t stop themselves from celebrating Christmas early. That’s on them. For the Christians, though, this is Advent, a time not to celebrate, but to prepare to celebrate.