Advent is kind of an interesting season for Catholics. We’re preparing for Christmas. We have all these Christmas parties, and then a priest will say, Well, remember, Christmas doesn’t start until December 24.
So how do we make sense of keeping the joy of Christmas preparation while also being present in Advent?
One way is understanding the joy of the Advent wreath, a very ancient tradition. It allows us to have the spirit of joy, and at the same time, remember that it is a penitential season. We’re preparing ourselves for the second coming of Jesus.
The Wreath
The green of the Advent wreath and the circle represent two things. The circle is a symbol that God’s love is forever. There’s no beginning or end. Just like a wedding ring, it goes in a circle.
The green, in the season of death when the trees are dying, says there’s still life. In the cold and the bitterness for those of us who live in the northern parts of the United States, there is still life. And even as we wait for the second coming of Jesus, there is still life.
The Candles
Each of the four candles has a theme. So this is one of the beautiful things. If you take these themes, they will help us. The first candle we light on the First Sunday of Advent is for hope. Can I bring hope into my life? Can I have hope in a chaotic world? Can I have hope in my own family when things are going bad? Do I know Jesus is there to help me?
The Second Sunday is peace. Now isn’t that a desire—with two international wars that we are aware of, many conflicts, and sometimes conflicts in our own neighborhood, our own churches, and our own hearts? Pray for a week of peace. Anticipate peace that will come with Christ.
The Third Sunday is a pink candle, this little rose candle. Yes, we’re thinking of what we need to convert and to become close to Christ, but it’s also a time of joy. This is the happy candle, the joyful candle to say, “Don’t be sad.” And it’s Christmas season, right? We have lights going up. We have the Nativity scenes going up. We’re shopping for our friends. We’re sending out cards and email cards. We’re having joy in a time of waiting for Christ to come, and for us to come close to Christ.
And so you have these three and you end up with love (fourth candle). In the first letter of John, we have: God is love. Jesus was sent into the world not to condemn the world, but to show the love of God for one another. So love is the final theme, to recognize this great love.
Think about it: God from heaven, all powerful with no limits, becomes a baby so he can fully embrace the human condition and redeem it by being one of us. That is love. To sacrifice everything—all powerful, no limitations—to become human, to be in touch with us. The Creator becomes his creation.
So enjoy Advent, and enjoy the Christmas season. God bless.
— Glenmary Father Steven Pawelk
