What does hope mean in the Advent season?

It is a time of expectation rather than fulfillment, of longing rather than joy. It is the season for waiting. Skip advert. Coming to this as we do, two millennia after the fact, it is difficult — for me, anyway — to feel this wait as real.

Why is hope the first Sunday of Advent?

Although various traditions sometimes emphasize different Advent themes and may observe them in different orders, the first Sunday of Advent is almost always dedicated to hope because the long-prophesied birth of the Babe of Bethlehem was something that God’s prophets and people had looked forward to for ages.

What is the most important message of Advent?

The Advent Season is all about reflecting on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ’s birth in the world as it is today. It is a time for faith communities and families to remember, through prayer, reflections, special music, and good deeds what the true meaning of Jesus’ birth is.

What are the four disciplines of Advent?

The four traditional advent themes for the four advent Sundays are:

  • God’s people -The Candle of Hope. Hope is like a light shining in a dark place.
  • The old testament prophets – The Candle of Peace.
  • John the Baptist – The Candle of Love.
  • Mary the mother of Jesus – The Candle of Joy.

How do we show hope in Advent?

1. Advent Wreath with 4-5 candles. Usually at a meal, we light candles for each week and somehow this act seems to give the reminder that each day is holy. Week one is the candle of Hope, week two is the candle of Peace so we light two candles and so on through Joy, Love and the Christ candle on Christmas.

What does the hope candle symbolize?

The first candle, which is purple, symbolizes hope. It is sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah. The second candle, also purple, represents faith.

What is the meaning of candle of hope?

What is the main meaning of Advent?

Definition of Advent 1 : the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting. 2a : the coming of Christ at the Incarnation (see incarnation sense 3b(1))

What are the three Ps of Advent?

Thus, the season of Advent in the Christian calendar anticipates the “coming of Christ” from three different perspectives: the physical nativity in Bethlehem, the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming.