I am waiting for my husband to come home from vacation. My daughter promised to bring him back home. Waiting is a painful process if you are uncertain just when a loved one would return to you.
There is a waiting among Christians that is very precious. It is called Advent. Advent is a season and preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, from where Christmas gets its name. This festive season is full of joy, except for the few among us who are temporarily separated from our spouses due to medical reasons or vacations.
To the Christian world, Advent is a time for confession, reflection and prayer. These activities prepare the heart, mind and soul for the annual remembrance of Christ’s birth. How wonderful this season is for all of us who may be undergoing doubt, betrayal, hurt, pain and worry. It offers us some time off from the cares of the world, and directs our focus upon what Jesus did for us: Forgive our sin and restore our relationship with the Father.
Part of many holidays are symbols that help us better understand the reason for the season. A more prominent symbol used in Advent is the wreath. The circle represents eternity in union with Christ.
Four candles deck this wreath, with different colors: Three in purple and one in pink to represent the four weeks believers wait for the coming Savior. The fourth Sunday before Christmas is counted as the first Sunday of Advent, and the succeeding Sundays counted as the second, third and fourth. There is an order in lighting the candles using the different colors as a guide. The purple candle that is lit on the first Sunday symbolizes hope. Love is symbolized by the purple candle on the second Sunday. Pink means joy, the candle that is lit on the third Sunday. It comes as a surprise that the purple candle that is lit on the fourth Sunday represents peace.
Why is the last candle purple and for peace? It is the culmination of the weeks of preparing our soul for Christ. Purple is the traditional symbol for prayer, reflection, repentance and sacrifice.
For those of us who also eagerly await the return of a loved one, may we find hope and peace in the trustworthy word of the Savior who said one day he will come back and take us to himself.