This Sunday will begin the second week of Advent. The candle we light is the Bethlehem Candle. After this, the third and fourth weeks of Advent, we light the Shepherds’ Candle (Joy) and the Angels’ Candle (Peace).

Week 3: The Shepherds’ Candle  

The shepherds candle reminds us of a loving carer, one who knows me by name. One who will miss me in absence and seek me out when I lost; one who does not count the cost to return me to my home.  It reminds us of how the shepherds responded – they listened and followed, they saw Jesus and they believed. It reminds us of the power and importance of faith and trust. 

Lord Jesus, help us to listen to the call of injustice, to open our eyes to the oppressed.  Help us to proclaim the good news with joy, and to live lives which are loving. Help us to die to those things which entrap us in unloving and hurtful relationships and grow into newness, beauty and health. 

Week 4: The Angels’ Candle

With the lighting of the fourth candle we know that the light of Christ is almost at its peak and most full. Darkness is almost banished away. We reflect on the role of messengers in the form of Angels to both Mary, her cousin Elizabeth and to the shepherds as they watched their sheep at night. So often messengers bring bad news, but the season of Advent is pregnant with the good news of mercy, hope, love, peace and joy. In the birth of Christ, humanity is called to be all of these things to the world. 

When the first dreaming began in this land. A sign of human hope and life shone above it. The Southern Cross’ light has always blessed this land. Jesus grew up to carry a cross. We all carry crosses. 

This Advent let every breath we take, be sacred in anticipation of our journey to the wonder of ‘God with us’. Let us open our hearts to the overwhelming and healing touch of a merciful God and may we find it in our hearts to be merciful also. 

This week I have been visiting classes and we have been exploring the Christmas message and looking at the accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ in Matthew and Luke.  We also looked at frankincense and talked about why the Magi might have gifted this aromatic. Please watch the “True Story of Christmas” that I shared with the children this week.