What is the meaning of Advent?
This explains Weilheim's Catholic parish priest Engelbert Birkle in an interview - which of course also deals with the World Cup.
Weilheim – Yes, is it Advent again?
For some it triggers stress in view of the approaching turn of the year, for others a particularly homely and blissful time begins when the first candle on the Advent wreath is lit next Sunday.
In an interview, Weilheim's Catholic parish priest, Engelbert Birkle, explains what is actually important in the weeks leading up to Christmas – which of course also deals with the World Cup.
What, only four weeks until Christmas? Time seems to be racing... Does Advent always come as a surprise to you?
In one way, I'm even a lot further: The planning for Christmas is shaping my everyday life, the Christmas cards are in print... At the same time, Advent is only just beginning, and somehow that always catches me a bit suddenly, yes.
I'm in the same rhythm as everyone else, and that's what I want to be too.
What does Advent actually mean for Christians?
From an ecclesiastical point of view there are two lines.
On the one hand, Advent is the preparation for Christmas: For those who recognize Jesus as Savior, Christmas is a real high festival.
If I'm going to celebrate that, I need to be in touch with what is in me that needs redemption.
Advent as a quiet time wants to be of help.
Second, Advent is a time that emphasizes Christians' hope for a consummation at the end of time.
The scriptures of the first weeks of Advent refer to this.
It's about longing: longing for God, longing for real peace.
Some say that Advent is actually a kind of Lent. Is that true?
Lent places more emphasis on guilt and forgiveness, while Advent focuses on longing.
The intersection is that it's a quieter time.
You can only really come into contact with longing if you become calm.
The question in Advent could be: What help you get in touch with your longing during this time?
What helps you to reach your God?
Are you making any special offers from the parish community during this time?
First of all, there is the special coloring of the normal services in Advent: Many like the Advent carols, the music groups that play, and the candlelit Rorata masses in the evening.
Advent has beautiful accents in the church due to customs.
All around there are proven things like the Advent window, which is opened every weekday evening in a different house, or the attunement to Advent with the community of Christ's missionaries.
New this year are spiritual celebrations in the Weilheim Nativity Scene Museum.
So there are already a number of spiritual offers.
What is different about the Advent season for you personally than in other months? Do you make time for special things?
I also like the songs and the scriptures of this time, I am interested in God becoming man.
There are also small things like opening a door on the advent calendar every day, lighting a candle.
These are short moments, small pleasures that I like to enjoy.
And as I head towards the end of the year, I am sure that many others share the joy of having got through it well.
Going through the abundance of impulses and offers is actually enough for me - much more than that would not be possible.
Does it bother you that so many externals determine Advent in our world?
I notice that we are all talking about the "staden time" and it is loud outside.
And it bothers me that there is actually no such thing as Advent in public, but something that takes place called the Christmas season.
If I say "Christmas" and if it says "Christmas" on an advertising brochure, they are two different things - but I don't need to get upset about it.
It just becomes clear that there has been a separation between the church and the secular world, although of course there are personal intersections between the two.
Are there any worldly things that you wouldn't want to do without during Advent?
I also like going to the Christmas market, although I don't really like mulled wine... I also like to move around in the intersection.
Advent concerts are also something nice, although they often create a large number of events.
Basically, there is a difference between places that are created so that people can come together - and mere commerce that wants to siphon off money under the label "Christmas".
This year, the soccer World Cup also falls in the Advent season. How are you with that?
When the decision was made a few years ago to hold the World Cup at this time and to hold the final on the 4th of Advent, I already thought to myself: You are occupying a holy time and worshiping idols... But I am now positively surprised that that many people apparently do not want to let such hype destroy their "winter bliss".
The World Cup doesn't seem to be attracting as much interest as it usually does in the summer.
Of course, that also has something to do with the venue and the human rights issue - and in our case it will ultimately also depend on how far the German team gets.
But in any case, it's not like there are only football advent calendars left.
If you could have one wish for Advent 2022, what would it be?
The headline that the war in Ukraine stopped all of a sudden!
That seems to me to be the most important wish these days.