Each Advent, as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, we’re drawn to the warmth of familiar Christmas stories. We dust off old DVDs, queue up streaming favorites, and settle in with cocoa, popcorn,and twinkling lights — yet beneath the nostalgia, many of these films quietly proclaim the Gospel.
I’ve written before about "It’s a Wonderful Life" (Volume 35 Number 1) and its unmistakable parallels with the Good News: sacrifice, redemption, community, and the reminder that every life touches countless others. But it isn’t the only film that carries echoes of the One whose birth changed the world.
For instance,think of this scene in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The moment Linus steps onto the stage and says, “Lights, please,” the room stills. What follows is a recitation from the Gospel of Luke — “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy…” — and when he reaches those words fear not, Linus does something extraordinary: he drops his security blanket! It’s a small gesture, yet one that captures the essence of Christmas — the courage that comes when we trust in God’s promise.
Each of us is invited to do the same this Advent: to release what we cling to, to lay down our fears, and to look for Christ’s presence in the ordinary — even in the flicker of a film we’ve seen a hundred times.
This Advent and Christmas season, be a gift to others. Unwrap fear, re-gift joy, and let Christ remain the main character in the movie we call life.
By Wayne Gignac
Bookmark and visit NorwichDiocese.org/Advent for additional resources this Advent season.
To Prepare Your Heart for the Coming of the Lord