Four Weeks of Advent Candles and Their Meanings – Week 1 Hope

I come from a tradition of commemorating Advent. In Latin, the root word is adventus, meaning arrival or coming. It represents the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day, the birthday of Jesus Christ, our Messiah. This is a season filled with expectation as we look forward to the day in celebration of Christ’s birth.

The churches I’ve been a member of had Advent candle lightings . Each of the candles, one lit each Sunday during those four weeks, have a special meaning and symbolism for Christians. Most use only four candles but some use five. The first, second, and fourth candles are traditionally purple while the third is usually pink. If there is a fifth one, it is white and is placed in the center and is called the Christ candle. The fifth one is lit on Christmas Day.

While I took notice of the arrangement of the candles and their colors, I didn’t really know the full meaning of each of them. I want to share those candles and their meanings with you over the next few weeks.

METHODIST TO PRESBYTERIAN TO BAPTIST

I was reared in the Methodist church, and my husband was in the Baptist church. When we married, I was singing in an exceptional choir in a beautiful Presbyterian church in Birmingham, Alabama. It will seem odd to some of you to read this, but the choir was audition only, and being chosen was quite an honor and privilege. When we married, my husband became a member of the choir (he has a beautiful baritone voice), and this is where three of our four sons were Christened.

Here we are, forty-nine years married, and we’ve joined our local Baptist church. Sunday was the first time in my life not seeing a service with an Advent candle lighting. It was strange to me, but I’m having to learn many new ways of seeing and experiencing things. Some are very different.

Four Weeks of Advent Candles and Their Meanings - Week 1 Hope @DDuPreeWilliams #faith #writing #Advent Share on X

THE FIRST CANDLE – HOPE

The first Advent candle is purple, and it symbolizes hope. Hope is my life word, so this candle is special to me. It is also known as the Prophecy Candle. It remembers the prophets, including Isaiah, who prophesied the coming birth of our Lord.

In my The Complete Jewish Study Bible, Isaiah is known as Yesha`yahu. Isaiah prophesied during a time when Israel was divided into two parts.  Both the Northern and Southern kingdoms were quickly declining. The Northern Kingdom was particularly evil since they’d had no good kings.

No good kings.

Can you imagine the hope they felt when they heard his words?

For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us;

dominion will rest on his shoulders,

and he will be given the name

Pele-Yo ‘etz El Gibbor

Avi-‘Ad Sar-Shalom

(Wonder of a Counselor, Mighty God,

Father of Eternity, Prince of peace),

in order to extend the dominion

and perpetuate the peace

of the throne and kingdom of David,

to secure it and sustain it

through justice and righteousness

henceforth and forever,

The zeal of ADONAI-Tzva’ot

will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:5-6 CJB, note this will be (9:6-7 in your Bible)

 

As we move forward in time to the New Testament and the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary to confirm Isaiah’s prophecy.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High,

and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob, forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom. (Luke 1:31-33 LSB).

Hope came to earth in the form of this tiny baby, foretold all those years before.

LET ALL OUR HEARTS PREPARE HIM ROOM

As we prepare our hearts to receive Him this Christmas, and now await His second coming, we can look forward with hearts filled with hope. We’ve seen it come to pass in the Scriptures. We’ve read all the promises. We’ve seen them fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

This Advent, may our hearts be filled with hope as we look forward to the celebration of Christ’s birth, but also to His second coming.

E’en so Lord Jesus, come quickly!

Blessings, y’all!

 

Handel’s Messiah is one of the most heart-stirring, magnificent works ever composed. Hubby and I have sung this countless times. Perfect for the Hope candle. I pray this blesses you.