Not Your Typical Church Lady: Joy and Love

On the third Sunday of Advent, we light the rose colored (pink) candle on the Advent wreath. This is the Joy Candle and rose is the liturgical color of joy. It reminds us that the time of preparation and waiting will soon be over and be replaced with a time of joy and celebration. In the Catholic Church, some priests will choose to wear rose colored robes on the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday.

“And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you great tidings of joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11, KJV).

Israel was waiting for their Messiah, the one who would come to save them from their grief and distress. And then… they got a baby. Babies don’t ride in on swift horses wielding the sword of righteousness and justice, saving mankind from despair. From that perspective it’s easy to understand why one could be skeptical that this little child was the Savior. On the other hand, babies are great sources of joy for many.

It says in the above referenced scripture that the tidings of great joy shall be to all people – not just the Israelites, but for all. Since the Old Testament, God had made plans to include all who seek him. “Like water spilled on the ground which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him” (2 Samuel 14:14). When the angels heralded their tidings to the shepherds, the joy they proclaimed was for everyone. The joy brought forth that night has continued to transcend through the ages, touching us still today.

When I imagine what it would have been like to look up at the night sky and see “the glory of the Lord” shining all around, I can feel my heart swell, first with awe and wonder, and then with bursting joy. When we see something amazing we immediately want to tell others about it. I know that this is true because when my husband and I were in town the other day I came upon a display involving a ceramic bowl and an airtight silicone lid. Having never seen one in action before, when I discovered how it worked, I couldn’t stop smiling. I even started to look for nearby shoppers to show it to because it was so fascinating to me. Everyone needed to see and know how cool it was. Other shoppers began to make a wide berth around me, leaving me there alone, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Yeah, I don’t get out much. So imagine how I would behave if a heavenly host appeared and proclaimed tidings of joy. Things would get crazy.

On the fourth week of Advent, we light the last purple candle, the Love candle. I know, it seems out of order: purple, purple, pink, purple. Purple is the color for waiting and anticipation and this is our last week of waiting for the big day.

During this week, our focus is love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV). That’s love. We reflect on this. We consider that Jesus loved us enough to humble himself by coming into this world as a baby, knowing that a painful end awaited him. He knew it but he loved us and he did it anyhow. Think of those you love and the things you do for them. Think of the things that others do for you. During this last beautiful week of Advent, we think of ways we can show love to others. Some of the best gifts aren’t things you can buy: spending time with loved ones, checking in on a friend, lending a hand, starting your spouse’s car on a cold morning, smiling at strangers, praying for those who are hurting, going to church with your mom and/or dad. Love is something we don’t run out of. We can give it as freely as we want. In fact, it seems the more we give, the more there IS to give. Don’t be stingy with the love. You won’t run out. As we celebrate Christmas this year remember to keep Jesus at the center.

May God grant you hope, peace, joy and love this Christmas and in the year ahead.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!