December 1, 2015

“One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” He answered them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from.” Luke 20:1 – 7

“The ancient Western European custom of lighting the Advent wreath in church…lends itself well to teaching the meaning of the Advent season. The circular form of the wreath represents the earth’s orbit and the ceaseless flow of time. The purple ribbons represent the penitential character of the Advent season and the four thousand years of waiting for Christ’s first coming. The wreath also symbolizes the Light of the World at his first and second Advent. The first candle is lighted on the first Sunday in Advent at the reading of the Old Testament lesson prophecy. Two are lighted the second week, three the third and four candles the final week.” Advent Landmarks, Robert D. Hershey (1909 – 1993) “For All The Saints” volume III, (p. 7)

Lighting the Advent Wreath is one of my favorite traditions leading up to Christmas. Understanding why we have this ritual is important. Advent is a late-comer in terms of seasons of the church year. It was added to mimic the season of Lent – so it too is a time of preparation, of self-reflection, and of anticipation. But the Advent wreath in the church allows families to get involved in lighting the candles, and in praying for particular needs of the church. And then, the family can take this practice into the home and have their own Advent wreath and devotions. Of course, this practice helps us count down the days to the birth of the Christ child. And, since Santa Claus is continually pushing Jesus out of the celebration of Christmas, the holiday specifically named for Christ, we need to do all we can to remind ourselves and our children that Christmas is about waiting for the Advent of Christ, waiting for the birth of Jesus, as well as the arrival of “Saint Nick”.

Pastor Dave