Explaining the Advent 2 Candle called Peace.

In this blog I have called the Advent 2 Candle, "Peace."

John 1:1-9 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify to the Light. The true Light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world."

There is an interesting Advent wreath tradition which calls the first candle "the Baptist" Candle and the Second, "The Way" Candle. Many of us will immediately hear John's words echo in our minds: "Prepare the way of the Lord." We may also remember that the Baptist Candle correlates to the Hope/Prophecy candle and that certain true Hope leads us on "The Way" to Peace in God. So in this way, prophecy relates to our certain Hope in God's ever present Peace. John the Baptist was the first true prophet since Micah who's prophecies close the Old Testament. In Micah we hear the encouragement towards repentance as he points us on our way forward to Bethlehem and the scene for God's next redemptive act.

Also, in our memories we might hear "the Way" and recall Christ's words: "I AM the Way". Now John the Baptist's words "Prepare the way" take on both of the Advent nuances: our preparation/repentance to be ready to receive our Messiah, both then and now, both Child and King, both Saviour and Judge; and words of prophecy "Be ready" your Christ is coming (and coming again).

All these ideas and images well up in us to reveal the wonder of Scripture and to humble us in gratitude for Scripture. The intricate multifaceted brilliances of the Word could never be authored apart from God! As the candles of Advent are lit, let us know, in awe and wonder, the fact of God's Love: He gave His only Son. Let us know the Peace this brings.

Like the first candle of Advent the second is most often blue, purple or violet. These colors are associated with repentance - the message of the prophets and of John the Baptist - the Way to God's Peace. In this second candle of Advent we are called to listen - to hear the words of the ancient prophets; to hear the words of the Baptist; to hear the Word of God. In our hearing, Truth is revealed. Truth dawns in us as a great Light dawns in darkness. Those who follow this Way will never again walk in darkness but will have the Light of life.

Advent 1 - some opening comments:

I was asked if I could explain the Advent wreath. Right off I confess there seems to be no consensus or authority around the wreath. Some despise this tradition - others cannot imagine Advent and Christmas without it. To some it is occult, animist or pagan practice, to others sacred Christian liturgy. So - the short answer is no I can't explain the "symbolism" completely. I can and will provide some thoughts if that is OK?

The first thought I will offer is this:

Symbols and ritual have no power or authority in and of themselves. They are inert. Any other thinking is fanciful mystic nonsense. Symbols and ritual can be and often are a significant part of the communication of the Gospel. The Gospel is alive and vibrant; should our communication of the Gospel not be likewise? As we communicate the wonder of the Gospel why would we not engage all our senses, all our emotions, our mind and our spirit? Word, movement, sound, light, form and texture all offer avenues that can honour God and thus enhance the communication of the Gospel. God's history of salvation is the ultimate love story, the ultimate drama. I suggest the Church should embrace telling this story with every tool of communication God created in us. We should use the beauty of God's creative genius to communicate, encourage and remind all people of God's Love. Christian symbols, ritual and liturgy are tools used to convey the good news - the Gospel. So let's not let our imaginations get carried away and distract us. OK?

The Advent 1 Candle I have called "Hope" in a Protestant tradition.

Isaiah 9:2 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined."

Some call the first candle the "prophecy candle" to remind us Jesus' coming was foretold hundreds of years before the incarnation and is known eternally. This is consistent with the name Hope: first, because (as we have seen in the week 1 blog posts) our Hope founded in God is certain as are prophesies received from God; and second, because the prophecy of Jesus is the pronouncement of ultimate Hope.

The first candle is often blue, purple or violet; these colors have been associated with the repentance to which we are called in anticipation of the coming of Christ. In Advent this word "coming" is a double entendre: first, because as we are approaching Christmas it alludes to the birth of Christ and thus His coming in flesh among us. Also, in Advent we look forward to Christ's coming again in glory at the end of time. So in this season we figuratively wait in darkness for our prophesied restoration to God as Israel once waited for the birth of the Messiah.