Experiencing Advent

1/1/2026

Experiencing Advent, a talk by Rev. Bridgette Siepker

by John-Peter Gernaat

How does one approach Advent? This is often a busy time of the year and before one knows, Christmas is knocking. Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation. There is great value in using the four weeks to prepare inwardly.

Rev. Bridgette Siepker, in a talk on Sunday, 7 December, suggested that the Canticle of Mary from Luke chapter 1 might be a tool to assist in the journey of inward preparation.

She began by describing what has led up to the meeting between Mary and her older cousin Elizabeth. The annunciation by the Angel Gabriel to Zachariah in the Temple that Elizabeth would bear a child in her old age even though she was considered barren. Zachariah losing his ability to speak and tell Elizabeth what had befallen him in the Temple, leaving her to deal with the unexpected pregnancy without an understanding. Then, the annunciation by the Angel Gabriel to Mary. Mary immediately leaves to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Her unexpected arrival and the reaction of the babe in Elizabeth’s womb elicits a most unexpected greeting from Elizabeth. Then follows the word of praise by Mary.

These words are not new words. Each sentence has its origin in the Old Testament. This indicates how deeply entrenched the scriptures were in the soul of Mary.

We can take these words, sentence by sentence, and meditate on them and ponder their meaning, especially for ourselves in our life-circumstance. This preparation will enable our souls to be receptive to what arrives for us at Christmas and is magnified through the Holy Nights.

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17/4/2026 12:34:38

This reflection beautifully reframes Advent as something far deeper than a countdown to Christmas—it becomes an intentional, inner journey.

What stands out most is the invitation to slow down. As you point out, Advent can easily slip by in a blur of activity, leaving little space for the very preparation it’s meant to hold. The suggestion to engage with the Canticle of Mary offers a meaningful way to reclaim that space—not by adding more to our schedules, but by shifting how we move through the season.

The image of Mary is especially powerful here. She is not presented as someone removed from life’s uncertainty, but as someone who responds to it with openness and trust. Her words, rooted in scripture, reflect a soul already shaped by deep listening. That idea—that what lives within us will shape how we meet life’s unexpected moments—is a compelling takeaway for Advent practice.

Meditating on the Canticle line by line feels like a very practical and grounded approach. Rather than trying to grasp the entirety of the season at once, it allows for a gradual unfolding. Each phrase becomes an entry point—something to sit with, question, and connect to one’s own experience. In that way, preparation becomes less about doing and more about becoming receptive.

There’s also something important in the connection between Mary and Elizabeth. Their meeting is not just a narrative detail—it reflects recognition, affirmation, and shared spiritual awareness. It reminds us that this inner work is not always solitary; it can be supported and deepened through meaningful encounters with others.

Ultimately, this reflection highlights that Advent is not about reaching Christmas quickly, but about arriving there differently. When approached with intention, even small moments of reflection can create a sense of readiness—not just for a day on the calendar, but for a deeper experience of meaning.

It’s a gentle but important reminder: what we cultivate inwardly during Advent shapes what we are able to receive when Christmas comes.

Jessica link

17/4/2026 12:35:07

This reflection offers a refreshing reminder that Advent is not something that simply happens to us—it is something we consciously enter.

What I appreciate most is the emphasis on preparation as an inner posture rather than a checklist. In a season that often becomes crowded with obligations, the idea of creating inward space feels both simple and surprisingly challenging. It asks us to pause, to listen, and to become attentive to something quieter than the noise around us.

The focus on the Canticle of Mary is especially meaningful. These are not spontaneous or casual words—they arise from a soul deeply formed by spiritual tradition. That detail matters. It suggests that Mary’s response to the extraordinary is grounded in a lifetime of inward cultivation. Her praise is not just emotional; it is rooted, thoughtful, and connected to something much older than the moment itself.

There’s also something powerful in the unfolding events leading up to that canticle. Both Elizabeth and Mary are drawn into circumstances they did not plan and could not fully understand. Yet, instead of resistance, we see recognition—Elizabeth perceives something sacred, and Mary responds with trust. That exchange reflects a kind of spiritual attentiveness that Advent invites us to practice.

Using the Canticle as a meditative guide is a compelling suggestion because it slows the experience down. Rather than rushing toward Christmas, it encourages us to dwell in the words, to let them work on us over time. Each line can become a mirror—revealing where we are, what we long for, and how open we are to transformation.

What emerges from this is a different understanding of readiness. It’s not about being perfectly prepared, but about being inwardly awake. Advent, then, becomes less about anticipation of an external event and more about cultivating a capacity to receive—something subtle, something meaningful, something that cannot be rushed.

In that sense, the season becomes less about time passing and more about depth growing.