Reflection for December 2025
Advent: A Season of Sacred Anticipation
November 30th sees the start of Advent and this year it coincides with St Andrews Day. Advent is the calm before the celebration lasting four weeks and ending on Christmas Eve. It’s the quiet, candlelit corridor that leads us towards the celebration of Christ’s birth—a season not of frenzy, but of focus. Derived from the Latin adventus, meaning ‘coming’, Advent invites us to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Emmanuel, God with us.
Many Christian families mark Advent with a simple wreath on the kitchen table. Each Sunday, they light a candle—purple for hope, peace, and love, pink for joy—and read a passage from Isaiah or Luke.
Symbolically,
Advent is rich with meaning. The four candles represent the growing light of
Christ in a dark world. The evergreen wreath, circular
and unending, speaks of
God’s eternal love. The colours—purple for royalty and repentance, pink for
joy—echo the emotional journey of waiting: solemn, hopeful, and ultimately
jubilant.
But Advent isn’t just symbolic—it’s deeply personal. It’s the season when we pause to ask: What am I truly waiting for? What clutter needs clearing so Christ can dwell more fully in me?
Here are a few ways to celebrate Advent meaningfully:
Light a candle daily: Even a single tea light can become a sacred moment. Pair it with a verse or a whispered prayer.
Read the nativity story: Stretch it over the weeks. Let each character—Mary, Joseph, the shepherds—speak to your own journey.
Write an Advent journal: Reflect on what you’re waiting for, what you’re grateful for, and where you see God at work.
Play quiet carols: Let music set the tone for reflection.
Reach out: Send a note to someone who might feel forgotten. Advent is about making room—for Christ and for others.
Advent reminds us that waiting isn’t wasted. It’s the soil where hope grows. And in a world that rushes toward Christmas, Advent invites us to linger, to listen, and to light one candle at a time.
Bill & Celia