Hope, Faith, Joy, and Peace Welcome Christ’s Second Coming
Christmas Eve is very dark in our house. We use only the lights on our trees and our advent wreath to illuminate our living room. We often watch a classic movie or the snowfall through the windows. It reminds us that when Christ died, there was darkness. At church, I love to sing Silent Night in the blackness and then light our candles off the person next to us to grow the light throughout the church. That reminds me of the Gospel spreading around the world.
Christmas Day is full of hope, faith, joy, and sometimes peace at my house. We start the day with presents, but with older adults, I usually get a couple of cups of coffee and a walk with my dog before I get to see any of them. The Christmas trees twinkle in the morning, but the sun soon overshadows their lights.
Some years, our kids are all home. Other years, they are far away, and we get a call or possibly a Zoom call. It doesn’t matter where they are; I want to see them. I would love to hug them and spend all day with them, but time marches on, and their lives go in different directions than mine.
The Advent wreath reminds me of God’s faithfulness throughout every season of life. Lighting the Christ candle adds more light to our home. Five steady and bright candles remind us of God’s light.
When my kids are far from home, I pray that our home is a beacon they want to return to. Just as a lighthouse shines to guide ships to a haven, I pray my house will be a light to show God’s love to the world.
Christmas is full of hope, faith, joy, and peace.
God gives us hope, faith, joy, and peace daily, not just during Advent. The prophets had hope, faith, joy, and peace from following God. The Magi traveled by faith to find the source of light they saw in the sky. They learned about God and received hope, faith, joy, and peace. The shepherds worked long hours and were not well respected, but the angels shared the good news of great joy with them first. These same messengers brought peace to Mary and Joseph during the birth of Jesus.
The Christ Candle reminds us of Christ’s birth, but it also reminds us of His Second Coming. Christ is the Light of the world. God promised that Christ would come again in glory. He will institute a new Heaven, where God will dwell with His people, and they will be without sin.
As we light the five candles of Advent, let us remember the hope, faith, joy, and peace that come from God as we look to the Second Coming of Christ Jesus.
Scriptures to meditate on while we grow in our faith:
Matthew 5:14-16
Luke 1:68-69
John 8:12
1 John 4:9-10
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Revelation 1:7-8
Revelation 20:11-15
Hymns to sing with your family:
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O Come All Ye Faithful
Joy To the World
Hark the Herald Angels
Silent Night, Holy Night
