Third Sunday of Advent Meditation

Traditional Advent Candle Wreaths have three purple candles and one pink or rose colored candle, and often a white candle in the middle. The color purple symbolizes both royalty and penitence. Today, the rose colored candle is lit. This color represents joy, which we can experience in the midst of our sorrow for our sin, because we know the Light of the World has come. The white candle is not lit until Christmas Day, and is called the Christ candle. Evergreens surrounding the candle wreath symbolizes everlasting life.

As we have move through the Advent season and contemplate the wonder of Christmas, we become one with those who have waited in darkness for the revelation of God's light and those who dared hope that God's salvation would come in the birth of a child. We are challenged to avoid those things in our lives that distract us from truly celebrating God's gift of love in Jesus. All that we do this season should reflect that love and our celebrating and giving should extend beyond our immediate circle of family and friends, to those who most need a touch of love and caring.

Take a moment to visit this link and enjoy one of my favorite Advent Hymns, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomocom.htm