Christmas is a magical season—Christmas trees, bright lights, garland, wreaths. In the midst of dark and winter—in the Northern Hemisphere—this season brightens our lives. There is a sense of magic—a feeling of hope for even the staunchest non-believers.

The buildup to the day is part of the magic. The ritual of putting up the tree. Of hanging the stockings. These rituals make the day itself even more special.

To those who are not Christians, it is a build up to a day of gifts, family, friends and good food.

To Christians, Christmas is so much more. Infinitely more. It is the birth of our Savior. It is the dawning of love and light that comes into our world—-and lives in our hearts. It is God with us - Emanuel.

So, how do we prepare for this celebration?

Advent!

Advent is the season leading up to Christmas. Just as we shop, listen to carols, and put up a tree to celebrate the coming of Christmas—we celebrate Advent as a time of preparation—preparing our hearts and our minds for the true Christmas—the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas day.

I believe John Piper says it best. “For four weeks, it’s as if we’re re-enacting, remembering the thousands of years God’s people were anticipating and longing for the coming of God’s salvation, for Jesus. And that is what Advent means: Coming.”

The Jews in those days did not know when the Messiah was to come. They were waiting. Hoping.

And so, in these weeks before Christmas—we enter that spirit. Waiting. Hoping. Anticipating.

One way to do this is through the weekly ritual of lighting the candles on the Advent wreath. The wreath holds four candles. Some wreaths incorporate a fifth candle for the Christ child. The wreath itself symbolizes the world, continuous life, or unity.

The wreath holds four candles. There are usually three purple candles and one pink candle. Purple symbolizes repentance and pink rejoicing and love. Themes are tied to each candle: the first purple candle is the Prophesy candle, and it symbolizes hope and God’s forgiveness to man. The second purple candle symbolizes faith—reminding us of the experience Joseph and Mary had in Bethlehem. The third candle—the pink candle—represents the love and joy that the birth of Jesus brought into the world. The final purple candle is the Angel’s candle, and it symbolizes the peace and justice that the Christ brought into the world, which the angels proclaimed. If you do incorporate a fifth candle, the Christ candle, it symbolizes the light that Christ brought into the world.

As we are having “remote” church services during the pandemic, we are having an at home advent service in which we sing a hymn, read Scripture, and light the next candle. In most years, we would celebrate the lighting of the Advent candles in church, but we don’t want this pandemic to steal this meaningful part of this season from us. And so, we have brought this service into our home.

In the busy season, it is important to take time to “enter” the true spirit of Christmas. Gratitude for God’ love and sacrifice. Gratitude that this Light came into the world and no darkness can put it out.

So, celebrate this season! Use Advent as a time to reconnect to God and to your faith. Look toward Christmas with anticipation, hope, love, and gratitude. You truly will have the Merriest Christmas!