First Week of Advent
𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍
Advent (from “𝙖𝙙-𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙧𝙚” in Latin, which means “to come to”). Ad-venire is the root of the Latin “𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙨” which means “coming.” Advent is the season that begins the Church’s liturgical year and includes the four Sundays (and weekdays) before Christmas.
Today, we celebrate Advent over the four weeks leading up to Christmas each year. This year we begin advent on December 1st and end this season of prayerful anticipation on December 24th. A period of preparation that points our hearts and thoughts toward the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also a time of anticipation for his Second Coming. The tradition for the first Sunday of Advent includes lighting the candle of 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 or prophecy candle.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 symbolizes promises delivered through the prophets from God as well as the hope we have in Christ. God crafted a great rescue plan that he lays out in Scripture. This plan foretells years in advance the arrival of Christ. The Bible also gives us a glimpse of the future and promises that God will come down to create a new heaven and Earth.
These liturgical celebrations during the Advent season give us a better idea of what to expect this season. This day encourages us Christians to pause, reflect, and spiritually prepare for the joy of Christmas and the fulfillment of God’s promises.
