Tonight begins the journey into Celtic Advent. I learned about this 40-day observation years ago. A clergy colleague in Hoboken, Geoff Curtiss, observed this every year, even changing the orientation of the altar and congregation. The altar, as I recall, was covered by a 'booth-like' structure of branches and leaves, reminiscent of the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
David Cole has written a very helpful book, "Celtic Advent: 40 days of devotions to Christmas". In it, he writes:
"Advent has two traditional start dates, depending upon your understanding. There is the traditional church date of the fourth Sunday before Christmas; and then there is the first day of December, when you open the first door of your Advent calendar.
But in the ancient church of Britain and Ireland (commonly referred to today as the ‘Celtic church’) there was another date – 15 November, the eve of 15 November in fact.
The reason for this date was because 15 November is 40 days before Christmas (including Sundays, unlike the 40 days of Lent), and the Celtic church believed in the same significance of numbers as the Jewish faith.
It is traditionally believed that the Celtic church, during this 40-day Advent, focused on what is called the three comings of Christ. The first was the incarnation, which is what Christmas is all about; the second was the coming of Christ into our own selves.
This was not just a single event for the Celtic Christians, what the modern church may call ‘conversion’ or ‘becoming a Christian’, but it was a continual activity in every part of our lives on a daily basis. It might even need to happen multiple times a day, and in every decision that is made.
This isn’t about eternal salvation; this is about Christ being intrinsically involved and interwoven in every part and aspect of our everyday lives. The third coming is the return of Christ at the end of all things as we know it, as described in the book of Revelation."
Even though I've long known about Celtic Advent, I have always felt awkward and hesitant about observing it. It has always felt to me - still feels to me - like an appropriation of a cultural spirituality, much in the same way we've appropriated and 'westernized' or 'Americanized' Native American or Buddhist Spirituality.
The western emphasis is much more on contemplative, individual spirituality, which felt to me a little too middle class and more luxurious of time and space than I was comfortable. It feels something unattainable for the poor who do not have their own "space" and many demands on their time just to provide food and shelter for themselves and their families.
It wasn't until I spent some time with the folks at the Wild Goose Community at the monastery at Iona that I began to have a change of heart and mind. There, I discovered that the cornerstones of Celtic Spirituality are Justice and Joy.
The goal of the journey into Celtic Advent is to prepare for the Joy of Christmas by committing yourself to the Justice incarnate in Jesus. No small commitment, this. It is a commitment to the radical, life-changing, world-transforming nature of God incarnate in Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit - the "Wild Goose" - who is our companion on the journey.So you know that anything can happen. And, will.
As I begin my journey tonight, the first night of Celtic Advent, I invite you to join me. I'll be posting a meditation or a prayer each evening in the hope that together we can create a space in the midst of our busy lives to make room for Justice and Joy, not only in our own hearts but in the very heart of our world.
God knows, we need both - Justice and Joy - in ourselves and in the world.
I am using these words from Julian of Norwich as my first meditation. Please join me.
A Canticle (Song) of Our True Nature
From Julian of Norwich
God is the ground and the substance,*
the very essence of nature;
God is the true father and mother of natures.
We are all bound to God by nature,*
And we are all bound to God by grace.
And this grace is for all the world,*
Because it is our precious mother, Christ.
For this fair nature was prepared by Christ
for the honor and nobility of all,*
And for the joy and bliss of salvation.
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