Over Thanksgiving my husband, Rogelio, and I had a conversation about how Christians jump into Christmas music all too quickly, ignoring Advent. A good priest friend lamented that “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” was all we had in terms of Advent music. We protested, assuring him that there was indeed Advent music, and we would find it! We each created our own playlists and committed ourselves to study Advent together and discuss what it means to us.
For me, Advent is a reminder that, just as the baby Jesus and his blessed Mother and Joseph made their way across Palestine on a donkey, so, too, are we all on various types of journeys in our lives.
Since becoming Catholic I have increasingly recognized the beauty in the liturgical calendar. It is a tender mercy that the end of the secular year coincides with the beginning of my spiritual one; the sense of disappointment, urgency, and monotony that the end of the calendar year brings is remedied with the more beautiful truth of waiting in hope for the reminder that our God is one who chose to enter our messy human history. Advent is a reminder of the great paradox of our lives as Christians—great disappointment is challenged and confronted by great hope.
Ultimately, our playlists tell a story of moving from the disappointment we feel as we reflect on what the world and our human family have been in 2017 to the joy and hope that Jesus’ light brings.
There are some traditional Advent songs here; of course, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” made the list, but it is accompanied by a few secular surprises. Kanye West will never be accused of being too overtly Christian, and “Ultralight Beam” may not have anything to do with the light of Christ, but his song making it on this playlist might show that we are still Christians even when failing to be intentional ones.
In “To Zion” Lauryn Hill’s desire to keep her child is interrupted by the visitation of an angel. Bon Iver’s newest album “22 A Million” may or may not be about the hurt caused by racism and white supremacy. As Americans living in the midst of these forces of sin a song like this is given new depth in the light of Advent; the promise of “God is with us” and Jesus assuming our human nature become even more awe-inspiring facts for the here and now. Sufjan Stevens is a knockout when it comes to making Christmas albums, but we also made a shameless shout out to the Brilliance and the Gungor-included Liturgists. Enjoy!
Thanks, you two! Just want to let you know that I gravitated immediately to Rogelio's list. Which means I am going to have to spend more time on your list, Karen. Learning opportunity!
Nice selection of songs here. I keep replaying "Litany" by Matt Maher. #PrayforUs
Check the index of the hymnal in your church for "Advent" titles to add to your playlist. Advent abounds with marvelous songs! Here's a bit more about that:
http://www.praytellblog.com/index.php/2017/12/04/advent-is-too-short-a-time-to-sing-all-the-songs-i-want-to-sing/
Excellent article. I would not that there was no such place as "Palestine" in the time of Jesus, Joseph and Mary. The Romans re-named the Holy Land after a failed Jewish revolution.
I just emailed a comment re: "Palestine." My name is Eugene Fisher
There is a WEALTH of terrific Advent music on GENTLE NIGHT, CD of the St Louis Jesuits, including particularly, Tim Manion’s “Emanuel”. Also, Dan Schutte’s PRINCE OF PEACE includes some great ones, especially “Come Lord Jesus”. It plays in our house all season! Thanks, Dan!!!
More garbage music. 2000 years of liturgical music, and this is music you promote as fit for a KING?
Exactly who are you trying to please with this stuff besides yourself? . More junk music in secularist slant. Totally embarrassed to see this garbage put before theLord. Father , forgive them once more, for they know not what what they are doing.