And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.: Christ is the light of all lights. We associate candles with Advent and Christmas. Glowing candles are twinkling and radiant in our homes, and in our churches, where we see the Advent candles of hope, peace, joy, and love. Wherever we see them, candles may be a silent witness to that glorious light of Bethlehem. As this season of Advent draws to a close, we have completed the lighting of the Advent candles. The only candle left is the white Christ Candle waiting to bring the light of Christ into our lives as we wait in the anticipation of Christmas. Advent is like a journey of life filled with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Hope as a sunrise, Peace as a dove, Joy as a dancing figure and Love as a heart shaped lantern. It is the Alpha and Omega of our lives. We ought to look at the four weeks of Advent as a journey. Advent represents the beginning of a new church year. A new beginning not only because it is the beginning of a new liturgical season, but it is the beginning of our preparation for the celebration of the birth of Our Lord and Savior. It represents our journey as it ends the calendar year. The calendar year is like our lives, December is the wintertime, when things wind down for many of us. And when the snow starts falling, soft and steady, it paints the world in peace. Not only is Advent a time of preparation it is also a time for reflection. Advent can be a period for reflection and active preparation. It is a time for us to refocus and remind us that Christ changed the world. The world needs to refocus; it needs to heal from the ravages of war and political uncertainty. It needs to get out of darkness and see the light of Christ. The Advent wreath is more than just greenery and candles—it’s a symbol of watchfulness and growing joy as Christmas draws near. The beauty and brightness from the glow of the candles is a reminder that Christ’s life was the light for all earth’s people — “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5, NRSV). Let us reflect on each Sunday in Advent. First Sunday of Advent, The Sunday of Hope: Hope is represented by a sunrise; The sunrise is the beginning of every new day. Every day gives us a new dose of hope and happiness. it is our choice on how we accept it. Hope makes you feel warm inside, the kind of hope that doesn’t sparkle loudly, but glows quietly, like a light that never quite goes out. Hope allows us to know no matter how difficult things appear we are on our journey preparing for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior who continues to bring Hope into the world. It is a reminder of the ultimate hope we have in Christ’s return and the restoration of all things.
The Second Sunday of Advent, The Sunday of Peace: Peace is represented by a dove. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. In the New Testament, the dove is prominently featured at the baptism of Jesus. The dove here symbolizes the peace and purity of the Holy Spirit, marking the beginning of a new covenant of peace through Christ. We definitely need the peace of our lord in today’s world. Remember the words from John 14:27: 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Continue your journey in peace.
The Third Sunday of Advent, The Sunday of Joy: Also, pink or rose Sunday: Joy is represented as a dancing figure. The dancing figure is happiness. By giving we can not only give joy to those in need but joy to ourselves, John the Baptist emphasized it is not just about me,we need to be aware of others. True joy is contagious and is meant to be shared, We are called to spread this joy to others, especially those in need. We obtain our joy by helping others, it should inspire and uplift those around us. Make your journey a dance of love and joy.
Today the Fourth Sunday of Advent, This is the Sunday of LOVE. The Sunday of Love can be represented by a heart shaped lantern. The lantern symbolizes the light of our Lord upon us. How does love fit into your journey? God’s love for us was shown through the birth of His Son, Jesus. Remember, God so loved the world He gave us His only son to save each and every one of us. Love is the foundation of our happiness. It drives our journey. If we pause and quietly sit, we can feel the love of God around us.
For many this year has been a difficult year, Advent is a time to stop and reflect, it is hard especially with all the excitement and rush of the holidays. So, to fully enjoy this time we need to find a quiet place, a place where peace and love surround us, allowing you to quietly look forward not only to Christmas celebrations but a chance to think about your expectations for the coming year. As you sit in quiet peacefulness only the silence of God’s love surrounds you. It lets you reflect on how much God has touched your life and the lives of those around you. We know it can be difficult to fully appreciate the significance of Advent with the knowledge and anticipation of Christmas and the joyful time it provides us with. But in order to fully appreciate Christmas we must first fully appreciate Advent and the time it gives us to prepare and to tone down the frantic pace of the holiday season. As we look past the excitement of the gifts and other joyous celebrations, we need to remember that as we lit each Advent candle it provided light in the darkness, just as Jesus brought light to the world. Therse four weeks of Advent have been leading up to this, the birth of the one who brings Hope, Peace, Joy and Love to the world. For all of us these four weeks are a new journey, a fresh start, new challenges. For unto us a child is born, not born to the privileged few but born for everyone, the poor, the forgotten, the hungry and destitute. May this Advent be one in which you have been blessed with a renewed sense of the miracle of Christmas in the coming of the Savior. Let us rejoice as we go out in your Name to finish our Advent journey, ready to receive that promise afresh into our lives. Understanding that we need to share and have the Christmas spirit all year, Let us go forth into the world and share with others the wonderful gift given to us, The Birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Peace be with you this Christmas season and throughout the entire year.
Let us Pray: Shine your light upon us, O God, as we seek to be enlightened. By your Spirit, open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts as we prepare for the coming of your Son. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 