This Sunday, for Lutherans and Catholics and a few other denominations, was Christ the King Sunday. It was instituted by one of the Popes in the 1920’s to recognize the sovereignty of Christ on Earth and in Heaven. One of my favorite hymns is a common choice for Christ the King Sunday, Crown Him with Many Crowns.
There is a lot of theological significance in this Sunday’s church holiday, but the significance to me today was a little more prosaic. This was the last Sunday before Advent begins. On the church liturgical calendar, Advent is the beginning. Advent is the time of preparation leading up to Christmas.
I was struck today with the realization that it was the last Sunday of the church year. Next Sunday, we begin a new year. I needed this realization just now. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with Thanksgiving (including, ugh, over eating) a few days ago, and bad weather and a challenging work schedule plus Christmas shopping, spending, cleaning, and decorating looming ahead. It’s all been going just so fast.
I could use a reset. A chance to slow it down and make a fresh start. I realized in church Sunday morning that I don’t have to wait until New Year’s Eve to start over. The new year starts now. I can look to the church liturgical calendar to help me appreciate where I am right now in time, so that it won’t feel like it is rushing by so fast. I will do my best to focus on and appreciate the four Sundays of Advent before Christmas. I have a lot to do to get myself, my family, and my home ready for Christmas, as I should, since Advent is a time of preparation. I will be mindful of what I’m doing in that respect. At work, during the week, I will not think of my frenzied efforts to get everything done before year end as finishing the year, but as preparing the new one. In my physical body, I will (try to) stop shrugging off healthy habits with the mental mindset that I’ll start again in January. Now is the beginning of a new year. Why wait?
So here’s to the New Year – the new liturgical year that is. To starting fresh and slowing down. To Advent!