What is Advent again?

            Since October, stores have been showing the signs of a modern Christmas.  "Sales of the Season" abound hoping to entice holiday shoppers into purchasing gifts and accumulating debt; Christmas music plays through the speaker system on constant repeat, effectively eliminating any Christmas cheer (and sanity) that shoppers might have had; Gift-Wrapping stations are scattered throughout shopping malls for those not skilled in the ancient art of origami.

            The little period before Christmas though, Advent, is often overlooked and seen simply as the time to buy the gifts, prepare for Christmas parties, and find at least one radio station that does not have Christmas music 24/7.  But Advent is far too important and valuable to be skipped over.  As defined by the Google dictionary, an advent is "the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event."  For Christian denominations celebrating Advent, this arrival of a "notable person" is the coming of Jesus Christ Himself!

            The purpose of Advent is to prepare our hearts to receive Christ Incarnate (Latin for "be made flesh").  Christ, the Lord and God of the Universe, will walk among humans, talk with them, and be with them in actual human flesh.  Imagine how incredible that would seem to the Jewish people awaiting the birth of the Messiah!  Imagine how incredible, striking, and compelling it should be to us!

            Is it possible to have family (and Christ) over for Christmas and only start preparing the night before?  No.  You buy the turkey at least a week early so it can sit in the fridge to thaw before you can even cook it.  But of course, you cannot just have turkey.  You make sure that there is enough pasta salad, fruit salad, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, bread, pie, cookies, treats, rice dressing, sweet potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, veggies, fruit, and cooked carrots for everyone.  But of course, you cannot just have food.  The construction company is called to build an addition onto your home to hold all the relatives from the woodwork.  Then, your home is vigorously scrubbed and cleaned because you must not let anyone see what your house really looks like.  But then, because it is Christmas, you cannot just let people visit and enjoy each other's company.  You buy gifts and make sure that not one person, "not even a mouse" (to quote the story that you read to the little children to carry on tradition), is left out.

            And yet, for the birth of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, Emmanuel, a Christmas Mass or Service the night before, or even the day of, is enough preparation.  The above things are important and definitely contribute to the joys of the holiday season.  However, it is absolutely essential for Christians to make proper use of the Advent season.  Slow down, breathe, and pray (Click here to find out 50 Ways to Talk to God).  Prepare for the coming of the King!  Where will Christ dwell if He cannot fit inside your heart?

Watch this video by Fr. Robert Barron for more information on what Advent is all about!

Authentic Christian Movies? Really?

            Earlier this month, Thor:  The Dark World, Gravity, and Captain Phillips were released.  Coming in December is the second installment in the Hobbit series titled The Desolation of Smaug.  These movies are widely popular (assuming The Desolation of Smaug meets expectations) especially in the various genres they represent.

            With great movies like these, it is difficult to venture much further out of the range of action-packed, fantasy-filled, sci-fi, drama genres.  However, there is much more out there to see, especially, the newest Christian movies.

            Honestly, Christian movies tend to get a bad rap.  The lack of funds and professional actors contribute to this, but a larger concern is that once people see the word "Christian" associated with movies, it is usually automatically downgraded.  The loss of traditional values in society has certainly contributed to this, but another reason, encountered in my own life, is the assumption that all Christian movies are going to be sappy, feel-good flicks.

            But the latest Christian movies have embarked on a journey to change all that.  Beginning with The Passion of the Christ in 2004, Hollywood and independent movie-makers have taken a sudden interest in the Christian genre, breaking onto the scene with dramatic, real, and powerful films.

            Even movies that aren't classified as Christian, such as the exceedingly popular musical Les Miserables, have deep Christian undertones.  This leads to speculation:  why would a society that has tried to rid itself of traditional values even want such a thing?

            Offering my personal opinion, I find it is because every human heart searches for the authentic and realness of life.  These films don't just show the happiness of Christians.  They show the struggles, sadness, anger, frustration, and joy and peace of Christians.  Real people. And audiences are attracted to this, the solidness and truth displayed in the movies.

            This is exactly what a morality-starved society needs (and desperately wants, even if it doesn't know it).  We all need to see examples of people triumphing over their sins and struggles with the help of God's grace.  Only then will we be able to see that it is possible to overcome our own as well.

Click here to see this week's post's inspiration!

Below are trailers for excellent and inspiring Christian movies.  Please feel free to leave comments and reviews about the movies!