The Advent Wreath

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11 ESV).

Advent is the season of preparation for Christmas. During the four weeks preceding Christmas, an Advent Wreath is traditionally used to represent aspects of spiritual preparation leading up to the birth of Jesus. The wreath itself is typically a circular garland of evergreen branches, though it can be in any configuration. The evergreen sprig is often used as a symbol of eternal life. Typically you will also find five candles arranged on the wreath, and one is lit each of the Sundays prior to Christmas; the final, or fifth candle, is lit on Christmas Day. The three principal colors of Advent are packed with rich meaning. 1. The first candle symbolizes hope and is called the “Prophet’s Candle.” The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival. 2. The second candle represents preparation and is called “Bethlehem’s Candle.” Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is also the birthplace of King David. 3. The third candle represents peace and is called the “Angel’s Candle.” The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace--He came to bring people close to God and to each other again. 4. The fourth candle symbolizes joy and is called the “Shepherd’s Candle.” To the shepherd’s great joy, the angels announced that Jesus came for humble, unimportant people like them, too. In liturgy, the color rose signifies joy. Today we would light the Shepherd’s Candle if we were following liturgical tradition. The angels did announce the coming of Jesus with the promise of “great joy.” Of course this truth is found in the purpose of Jesus’ first coming. Christ was the sinless, spotless, perfect sacrifice for our sin. He conquered death and removed the curse from our lives. He was the light come into a dark and dying world. Whether you participate in the lighting of the candles or not, I hope this year is filled with the great joy of the work of Christ in your life. Regardless of the circumstance you may find yourself traveling through, nothing can change this great truth. This is our joy! Celebrate that today!