For those of you who follow the liturgical calendar, this second Sunday of Advent brings to our minds the traditional story of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1–12) as it was used, by the Gospel writers, to illustrate their first century CE apocalyptic kingdom theology. A later, less apocalyptic interpretation of John the Baptist, from the time of Francis of Assisi, is very well captured by our distinguished sibling, Anthony of Padua, in his own Second Sunday in Advent sermon (see: https://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/03d/1195-1231,_Antonius_Patavinus,_Sermones,_EN.pdf ).
However, my own Advent reflections this week, much like Sr Markie’s last week, go toward Christmas carols. I find that Christmas carols capture ‘the people’s” version of their Christmas story. The infusion of Christmas into their own experience. Some carols closely follow, and even embellish the tradition Gospel narratives. Other carols take us to different times and places and present varied world views and expressions of people’s “lived gospels” – what Christmas means to them. Their expressions of their own Christmas stories that can be happy, sad, or hopeful. These sung stories can take us back into history or just back to our childhood or forward in aspiration to some future Christmas.
One thing that I noticed here in Ireland in is that the most popular Christmas carol is not typically found in churches. It is about two somewhat broken lives in a tenuous relationship – illuminated by the light of Christmas. That carol is “Fairytale of New York” (by The Pogues -1988). The opening stanza is:
- It was Christmas Eve babe
- In the drunk tank
- An old man said to me, “won’t see another one”
- And then he sang a song
- ‘The Rare Old Mountain Dew’
- I turned my face away
- And dreamed about you…
You can watch the music video with close captions of the text at – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8
I’ve found that Christmas, like Jesus, can often be seen and experienced where I might least expect it. I invite you to give a meditative listen to Ireland’s favourite Christmas Carol and see if it helps inspire you find Christmas in some additional places that you might have overlooked.
Peace and blessings – Neal (with Shoshanah, Markie, Juniper, and Kelly)