Advent: The Angels

The final candle is the angels candle, symbolising their peace and the message of good news that they offer.

PEACE: amid all the hustle & bustle, all the planning & preparing, all the list-making & gift-wrapping...the message that the angels brought that night, their tidings of good news & great joy, is where Christians find their peace. the promises of old are fulfilled & the long-awaited Savior has arrived. the sort of peace i find inwardly supercedes all the stress & all the pressure to get things done as i redirect my focus onto the true gift this season has to offer me. it always amazes me that the joyful message that the angels bring--a means that would surely seem to be terrifying if you think about it. i mean after all, bright light & loud voices announcing things & singing from the sky in the middle of the night would certainly catch ME off guard. this message, though one of joy, brings profound peace.

again i felt the need to pick 2 verses from songs that seem to capture the true joy & magnificence by which the angels brought their glad tidings:

Hark the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on
earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful all ye nations
rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark the herald angels sing,
"Glory
to the newborn King!"
(Hark the Herald Angels Sing)

Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of
heaven above
Glory to God, all glory in the highest!
O come let us adore
Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
(O Come All Ye Faithful)

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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch
over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory
of the Lord shown around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to
them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ
the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and
lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared
with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:8-14

it's this sense of peace that makes this season such a special one for me. you can feel this kind peace in the middle of an over-crowded mall as easily as on a crisp starlit night blanketed in fresh-fallen snow. it is peace born of hope that is fueled by faith that brings me such Christmas joy. the four advent candles: HOPE, FAITH, JOY, PEACE. my wish for you all is that your Christmas is filled with these as well.