We light the pink candle in the Advent wreath today, which symbolizes Joy. Joy does not equate with happiness. Rather, it is deep-rooted in peace that we can rest in God admit life’s difficulties.
Jesus came into this world as a baby. His birth was a great news of great joy because He, the Son of God, Emmanuel, came to live among us. died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Today, we can wait with joy that He will come back again for us and bring us into His eternal Kingdom.
The second Sunday of Advent pepares us of the coming Kingdom of God: one that is of peace, justice and righteousness. In God’s Kingdom, there will be no division, no disunity, no hatred. In our everyday living, God also gives us peace. Though we are living in challenging times, the peace that comes from God shows us that we are not alone. We know He is with us.
When Jesus was born, there were no rooms available for Him. Are there room for Him in your heart this Christmas season?
“22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).(Matthew 1:22)
2000 years ago, the angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary and said to her that she would be pregnant with a Child through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was something unheard of. It had never happened before. The Baby was to be called Emmanuel, which means, God with us. No matter how bleak the circumstances you are in, God is with you. He will not let go of you.
Christmas is a time for us to pause and remember that God chose to came to earth for us, mortal humans. He lived and dwelled among us. This is the greatest expression of love, that God did not spare His own Son but sent Him into this world for us (John 3:16).  Â
Baby Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem. There were no rooms at the inn for baby Jesus to be born. The Son of God come into this world in a shabby, smelly, lowly manger, a place where animals lived in, ate and rested.
As we reflect on the meaning of Christmas, may you invite God into your life. May you experience the hope, joy, love and peace in your life that He alone gives.Â
Today is the 1st of December. We thank God for sustaining for the past 11 months. As we are in the season of Advent, may we experience the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love of God this Christmas season.
Advent is a 4-week of anticipation leading up to Christmas as Jesus was born into this world for us. It is also a time of waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
On the First Advent, we light the first candle, which is the purple candle (purple symbolises repentance and prayer). Jesus Christ, the Light of the World has come. He came to give us Hope.
