AN ADVENT REFLECTION

Advent is traditionally a time of ‘waiting’ – waiting for the birth of Jesus Christ. The many symbols associated with Advent and Christmas are rich in meaning.

This was the focus that Fr Ignatius Huan used to help more than 150 participants reflect on during their “Advent Reflection” on 9 December.

Come Christmas and we are always bombarded by advertisements and activities that commercialise it. Although many emphasize the value of giving, Fr Huan reminded us that these exhortations fail to acknowledge the religious nature of Christmas and often distort our appreciation of the true significance of this holy season.

Hence, the Advent Reflection was timely in preparing us spiritually for Christmas. Fr Huan explained the various symbols of Advent and Christmas and their scriptural significance. For example, the advent wreath is a symbol of Christ’s victory over sin and death and the circular shape proclaims God’s eternal nature; the candy cane represents the shepherd’s crook that helps bring back strayed sheep - it reminds us that we are our brother’s keeper; the holly plant reminds us of immortality - it represents the crown of thorns with the red holly berries representing the blood He shed for us; the bell symbolises guidance and return as it rings mankind to the fold.

Fr Huan shared anecdotes from his life to describe how the meaning of these liturgical events became ‘alive’ to him. He also screened short video clips of various sequences in the Christmas nativity story.

Many tend to romanticise the birth of Jesus such as, Baby Jesus being born in a stable surrounded by animals and the presentation of gifts by the wise men, without reflecting on its religious significance. However, the harsh reality of Jesus’ birth was that there was no room at the inn for the Holy Family in their hour of greatest need. Jesus came into the world not in the splendour of a palace, but in a humble stable far away from home. It struck me then that how we respond to the coming of Christ affects our preparation for Christmas. Christmas without “Christ” would not be Christmas at all. We need to share and spread the love, peace and joy of Christ.

For the participants at Fr Huan’s talk, it was indeed an afternoon well spent, in preparation for a Holy Christmas 2007!

Gilbert Wong