COLORS OF ADVENT
FOUR COLORS - FOUR
VIRTUES
ADVENT COLORS.
The four Sundays and four
candles of the Advent season are focused on four virtues that Jesus brings:
Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.
|
L
|
ighting of the each candle
is a symbol of an phase of the spiritual preparation
for the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The three colors are
purple, pink, and white.
The light reminds us that
Jesus is the light of the world that
comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope.
It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect
the light of God's grace to others (Isaiah
42:6). The progression in the lighting of the candles symbolizes the
various aspects of our waiting experience. As the candles are lighted over the
four week period, it also symbolizes the darkness of fear and hopelessness
receding and the shadows of sin falling away as more and more light is shed
into the world. The flame of each new candle reminds the worshippers that
something is happening, and that more is yet to come.
Finally, the light that
has come into the world is plainly visible as the Christ candle is lighted at
Christmas, and worshippers rejoice over the fact that the hope and promise of
long ago have been realized.
Four Sundays and Candles
- First Sunday – First Candle (purple or blue): Old Testament patriarchs of Christ's ancestors. Candle of hope.
- Second Sunday- Second Candle (purple): Christ's birth in a manger and other prophecies. Candle of Bethlehem.
- Third Sunday – Third Candle (pink): The rose candle of joy or of the shepherds. The angels sang a message of joy (Luke 2:7-14).
- Fourth Sunday- Fourth Candle (purple): The annunciation of Christ's birth, thu the candle may be recognized as the Angel's candle. The Magnificat or Song of Mary may also be featured.
- Fifth Sunday - Fifth Candle (white): CHRIST CANDLE - on the eve of His birth, the Candle leads us into receiving - at long last - the promised Child: Immanuel, God with us.
…..to be continue
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
No comments:
Post a Comment