My favorite show is The West Wing. I have watched it no less than ten times to completion over the years; I get something new each time. Although I know what’s coming at the end, I still watch. I wait. I anticipate my favorite episodes and I look forward to them with gusto. Sadly, having viewed TWW so many times, sometimes I simply skip episodes in order to get to the next one I like…I skip the story ahead so that I get to watch the ‘good’ stuff.
And I have to stop.
The hard moments, the boring moments, and even the seasons that Sorkin didn’t write are all still part of the story. They’re what make up the whole beautiful arc. Skipping parts here and there, allowing myself to not care about those moments, is wrong. It cheapens the show, and it cheapens the experience. Because I look forward to my annual watching every single year. Always in November. Always all seven seasons. Even though each season brings its own type of mystery and revelation, I still favor some over the others. Admittedly, I’ll skip some episodes through each season, but I always watch the majority. So why skip any part of it, at all?
I feel like I’m doing the same thing with Advent, along with the other liturgical seasons of the year.
Sometimes, I skip moments within the season. I hit the fast forward button and move on to Christmas. Then, I skip Epiphany and Lent and ‘watch’ Easter unfold—sure, I don’t skip them entirely but I do skip certain episodes that are difficult. Yet, aren’t I missing the narrative that makes our story so great? By skipping to ‘the good parts’, aren’t I just cheapening the experience I have with God? I think so. And this is a story that never gets old, because each season brings its own type of mystery and revelation. Watching the majority isn’t enough.
I want to be a part of the entire series.
So, I will wait. I will watch. I will weep. I will be joyous. I will begin the adventure anew each year and end with the proclamation that Christ is King. No more skipping episodes. I’ll watch it all, and I’ll be changed in a different way every time I encounter these seasons. All seven seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time.
And I’ll start at the beginning with Advent. I hope you will, too.
Faithfully,
Fr. Sean+