First Week of Advent: The Day Is Coming

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’” (Jeremiah 33:14–16 ESV).

Since the Middle Ages, Christians have used Advent wreaths to symbolize spiritual preparation for Christmas. The evergreens and circular shape of the wreath represent God’s everlasting, unending love.

The four candles mark the progression of the four weeks in Advent, with growing light preparing us for the birth of Jesus. Traditionally, three candles are purple, and one is pink. The first purple candle represents HOPE, the second signifies LOVE, the third pink candle stands for JOY, and the fourth symbolizes PEACE. 

The light of a candle is fantastic. Its glow creates warmth, inspires hope, demonstrates love, provides joy, and calms anxious hearts, filling them with peace. 

Hope, love, joy, and peace! It’s difficult to live without these gifts, and it’s increasingly essential that we rediscover them. 

Jeremiah’s words are written to individuals living in exile. Their lives are in disorder, and anguish, desolation, and uncertainty are real parts of their world. Sound familiar?

We may not be in exile, but all around us, we can identify with fear, hate, sadness, and anxiety. So did Jeremiah’s audience. 

His words are encouraging, promising, and hopeful. Jeremiah reminds his neighbors that Yahweh would raise the legitimate successor to the throne: The LORD our righteousness. He introduces this promise with the words, “the days are coming.”

It was a dark and foreboding time for Jeremiah’s friends. It may seem that way for us whose candles glow dim. But remember as you light your Advent candles this year: A little light has the power to produce an abundance of hope, love, joy, and peace!

And remember: The day is coming! And it’s closer than we may realize. 

Prayer: “God of light, your hope illuminates the darkness of our world. You call us to walk in your light, casting off the works of darkness. Fill our home and hearts with the light of Christ. Help us reflect the hope found in Him to a world waiting for His appearing. Blessed be God forever. Amen.”