December 16, 2014
Shepherds herd sheep. They gently tend to their sick or wounded sheep while simultaneously leading the ones trying to go their own way with a firm hand. They defend their flock from predators. They nurture the babies. Normally, whenever an unblemished lamb is born, the responsibility falls on shepherds to spread the news that there’s […]
Read More →December 10, 2014
The other day, lyrics I heard on the radio on my drive into work kept replaying in my mind: Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has […]
Read More →December 23, 2013
Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. The final candle, the white one in the center of the Advent Wreath that we light on Christmas Day, represents the Light. Christ’s white, piercing light sends the darkness scurrying for cover, like roaches when a light switch is flipped. It displaces the darkness. The people who walk in […]
Read More →December 18, 2013
The final purple candle is the Candle of Love. Next Sunday (December 22 this year), the Advent candle we light reminds us that the King of Kings loved us enough to send his only son to earth. We give gifts to each other, not out of obligation or manipulation – not to try to appease our […]
Read More →December 11, 2013
The third Advent candle – the pink one – is the Candle of Joy. It recalls the angels rejoicing about the birth of Christ and reminds us that the news of Jesus is meant to bring us great joy. He alone is the Joy of the World. In the church calendar, the third Sunday of […]
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