CMP Review 2024-12-01

According to Robert Webber, the season we now call Advent was originally a period of penitential preparation for the baptismal service of Epiphany. It wasn’t until the sixth century that Advent evolved into a time of preparation for Christmas. “It must be noted, however,” says Webber, “that the shift from baptismal preparation to Nativity preparation did not diminish the penitential character of Advent.”

Today is the first day of Advent, and in many churches and homes, it remains a time not only of anticipation but also of repentance. I believe these two disciplines are essentially linked. Charlotte Mason’s beautiful poem “The empty house” illustrates that penance alone does not make for life. Penance alone just leads to an empty heart. To find life, the heart must be filled anew.

“Lord, take my vacant house and dwell therein, For only where Thou art’s no place for sin.” But how do we fill our hearts with Him? Not only our hearts, but the hearts of our children?

“Our fault, our exceeding great fault, is that we keep our own minds and the minds of our children shamefully underfed,” warned Charlotte Mason. Hearts are hungry. Let us dedicate this season of Advent to feeding these hearts on Christ. Read or hear Mason’s poem here.

@artmiddlekauff