Advent and a Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree is a centuries-old family Advent tradition popular with both children and adults alike. It helps to us to connect Jesus with the shepherd boy who became King David of Israel (son of Jesse).

Each day an ornament can be hung in a Jesse 'tree'. Starting at the base of the tree with Adam and Eve, and the top of the tree with the coming of the child Jesus at Christmas. Each day has a scripture reading and a symbol and will give a much deeper understanding of Christmas by the 25th.

Here are the symbols and scripture for the first week:

Dec 1 - The world is created (a globe) - Genesis 1:24-28

Dec 2 - Adam and Eve (snake and apple) - Genesis 3:1-24

Dec 3 - Noah and the Flood (rainbow) - Genesis 6:11-22; 8:6-12; 9:11-17

Dec 4 - Abraham (camel) - Genesis 12:1-7; 13:2-18; 18:1

Dec 5 - Sarah (baby) - Genesis 18:1-15: 21:1-7

Dec 6 - Isaac (ram) - Genesis 22:1-14

Dec 7 - Jacob (ladder) - Genesis 27:41-28:22

My lovely friend Maureen mentioned this to me last week as an alternative to an advent calendar and I had great intentions of making one (!!!!) but here we are on the 1st and it is still a dream. Perhaps I should just use an advent candle and a bible instead?

If you would like to know more about this tradition, click here

www.crossroadsinitiative.com/JesseTree

God bless you,

Ros

May these days of Advent

be truly special for you,

red-letter days that renew you

in your friendship with the Lord.

May each day bring

its own special grace to you,

gifts of faith, hope and love

from the Lord's loving heart.

May each precious moment

shared with the Lord in prayer,

each resolution you make

to please the Lord, bring blessings

on you and your loved ones

throughout the Christmas season

and in the new year ahead.

(from the Prayer Trust)

First Sunday in Advent

Today we celebrate the beginning of Advent. One of the symbols of Advent is a wreath:

The origins of the advent wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic people who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light. By the Middle Ages, Christians used wreathes as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. By 1600, both Catholics and Lutherans had more formal practices surrounding the Advent wreath.

The wreath itself is usually made of pine or cedar sprigs which are drawn into a circle symbolizing God's eternity. Affixed to the wreath are four candles; three purple and one rose or pink, which are lit one on each of the four Sundays. The rose candle anticipates and symbolizes the Christmas joy announced in the first word of the Entrance Antiphon: Rejoice (Latin, Gaudete). For this reason the Third Sunday is also called Gaudete Sunday, and rose colored vestments are often used.

Sometimes a fifth white candle is placed in the center of the circle and is lit on Christmas Eve. The wreath has always been a sign of glory and victory while the light from the candles, gradually increasing every week, symbolically dispels the darkness. As the candles burn, they visibly mark the passing of time until Christmas Day.

Ros

Today's psalm:

Psalm 24

Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
for you are God my saviour.

The Lord is good and upright.
He shows the path to those who stray,
he guides the humble in the right path;
he teaches his way to the poor.

His ways are faithfulness and love
for those who keep his covenant and will.
The Lord's friendship is for those who revere him:
to them he reveals his covenant.

Advent photo and article courtesy of
Sooner Catholic Online