How To Prepare For Christmas

For most, preparing for Christmas suggests decorating, baking, shopping, etc.  The thought is that these activities help us to “Get in the spirit of Christmas” (whatever that means).  But preparing for the birthday celebration of the child who will bear the sin of the world requires more than tinsel and eggnog.  It requires repentance. 

In fact, the church already has something very helpful to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  It’s called Advent.

The time when we hear readings not about shepherds and angels, but about Christ's glorious return and John the Baptist calling us to repent.  We sing hymns, not of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” but “Prepare the Royal Highway.”

We do not prepare for the Christ child by trying hard to “get in the holiday spirit” or by acting nice like Santa wants.  We do not somehow by our thoughts, emotions, or actions become worthy of the joyous Christmas tidings.  To prepare for Christmas, we become unworthy, poor in spirit, sinners.

“My beloved, just as it is not a person whose stomach is full, but only one who is suffering hunger pains and thirst, who most deeply rejoices when he is called to eat and drink; and just as it is not a healthy person, but one whose illness makes him suffer pain who heartily rejoices when he is given the assurance that he will soon be healed; and just as it is not a free man, but only a prisoner who heartily rejoices when he gets the news that he is being set free; and just as it is not a rich man, but only the one who is threatened and worried because of his debts who rejoices when he hears that his debts are being paid; so also only he who has come to a vivid acknowledgment that he is a poor lost sinner that heartily rejoices when he hears the Savior of sinners is here.  See, this is the true preparation for the holy joy of the Christmas Feast during the holy season of Advent.  That is, you are prepared, when you become a poor sinner.”

C.F.W. Walther, “Confessional Address On Advent 1, 1884,” Occasional Sermons and Addresses By C.F.W. Walther, Joel Basely, 162.

What a blessed Advent Season it is when a person experiences this.  Then he is prepared, not for presents or parties, but for Christ.

A Blessed Advent to you!