Carols and the Christmas Paradox
by Veery HuleattThe old Christmas carols, by delighting in humble details, capture the paradox of the season: God’s power made incarnate in the womb of a lowly girl. Continue Reading »
Melodies for Advent
by Ramona TauszThe members of the First Things staff offer a collection of Advent hymns and carols for the final days of this penitential season. Continue Reading »
Make Straight the Path
by C. C. PecknoldIf your Advent is all rose and no purple, you’ll be unprepared for the grace of Christmas. Continue Reading »
Word Made Flesh
by Peter J. LeithartThis is the good news of Advent: The Word who became flesh dwells in your flesh and speaks himself there, among your ruins. Continue Reading »
The Little Eschaton
by Francesca Aran MurphyEven in a churchless family, the build-up of present-buying leading to Christmas can bear a wealth of eschatological meaning. Continue Reading »
A Meditation on “Maranatha”
by George WeigelIn Advent, the Church ardently prays the ancient Aramaic Maranatha—“Come, Lord Jesus!”—in the sure confidence that the Lord’s return in glory means the fulfillment of history. Continue Reading »
Our Claim on God’s Mercy
by Thomas Petri, O.P.Regardless of the dark winter about to descend, Advent reminds us that God will keep us firm to the end and that we have been called to fellowship with Jesus Christ. Continue Reading »
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
by James Matthew WilsonSnow that has fallen in the night Blankets at last the sodden clay And offers such peace to our sight As if it were the eternal day. Yet shoppers, now, begin to fight Among stripped shelves, and husbands say Some stinging thing to frazzled wives Just before the first guest arrives. What blessing . . . . Continue Reading »
Fire Up a Candle
by Timothy MurphyFire up a candle for the Advent wreath. The birth is a week away. Let the deer browse peacefully on their heath, our rifles locked away. Last remnant in our Liturgy of Greek, let all sing Kyrie, Christe eléison. Let all who seek salvation, let the stray sinner come to the church whose Lord is . . . . Continue Reading »
The Politics of Advent
by Dale M. CoulterThe season of Advent reminds Christians that uncreated nature grounds, heals, and elevates created nature, which marks the foundational principle of the city of God. Advent has a politics within it.
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