During these weeks of December darkness, within our classrooms and school community, we have been reflecting upon the season of Advent and how it is a time of waiting, hoping, preparing and quietness.
At this time of year, of course, nature all around us expresses the struggle between darkness and the yearning for the light, as we mark the Winter Solstice. December 21st has the longest hours of darkness for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Were we to be present in Newgrange, Co. Meath on this morning, we would experience the rising sun and the sunlight peeping through the passage grave.
We think, too, about how, in pre-Christian times, our ancestors were fearful that darkness and death would rule over the earth, so they circled sacred fires built on hilltops and in holy places to petition the gods and goddesses to bring back the sun.
Over these past weeks, as we have created our Advent wreaths and counted down the days on our Advent calendars, we have reflected on the meaning of the word, itself - ‘Advent’ - from the Latin ‘adventus’ (arrival) or ‘advenire’ (to come) - trying to be mindful not to let material preparations hinder us from spiritually preparing for the holy season of Christmas. We try to understand that the season of Advent is a special time when we can focus especially on making things right.
Our Advent wreaths contain four candles, one for every week of Advent. The candles provide a strong contrast between dark and light. We ponder on Jesus as the light of the world that came down to dispel the darkness. Each week, we have lit a new candle - representing hope, peace, joy and love - gradually dispelling more and more of the darkness, as we draw ever closer to the coming of Christ at Christmas. By the final week of Advent, all four candles are lit, reminding us that the time to rejoice has finally arrived!
The story of Advent is a story of waiting, looking forward in hope. In these days and weeks, perhaps, we think of people waiting to get on a boat at the risk of their lives, hoping for something better; refugees leaving home, travelling in hope to what they see as the promised land. We think of children who are suffering due to war, famine and homelessness. We think of families huddling under canvas in the rain and cold; a homeless man on the street... We are called to care for each other as Mary and Joseph did in their little family... May we find hope in the light of our Advent wreaths... May we call forth from one another the light and the love that is hidden in every heart...
An Advent Blessing
Light of God to give us hope
Power of God to protect us
Light of God to give us joy
Peace of God to calm us
Light of God to give us faith
Grace of God to save us,
this day and ever more.
Amen
We thank our Primary Seven students for honouring our long-held annual tradition of making the Advent wreath for St Mary’s Church most beautifully and creatively once again, this year - the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025. A very special word of appreciation is conveyed, too, to three of our boys - Cian, Conor and Darragh - for your wonderful video compilation and presentation of the making of our Advent wreaths. Thank you, boys.
