Happy Monday!
Within just a week, we have jumped from a time of gratitude (which I hope continues every single week of the year!) to a season of expectation and preparation, the season of Advent.
Until just a few years ago, I was totally unfamiliar with Advent. In those years, I have grown to embrace it though. Not just as some religious tradition, but as a time to prepare for the coming of Christ. A season of reflection on the expectation of His return! I still don’t understand all of the tradition but Oh, how I long for His return! I know that day is getting closer so I want to be ready. Ready to meet my Savior face to face! It is a season of hope! Advent means arrival. I am preparing for the day that we commemorate His first arrival on Christmas and looking forward to His second return to gather up the believers.
So, Week 1, the week of HOPE.
Pray Unceasingly!!
Lois
The Christ Candle (Hope)
This central candle, also known as the Christ candle, represents Jesus who we as Christians believe to be the Savior of the world; the pure light that once and for all eliminates all darkness. He makes right all that is wrong with the world.
The first candle, which is purple, symbolizes hope. It is sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah. It also assures us we can have hope that God will fulfill the prophecies declared in the Old Testament about Jesus. Hope doesn’t disappoint us (Romans 5:5).