Maybe you’ve noticed in the weeks leading up to Christmas we set out an Advent wreath. The wreath itself, a circle, represents the unending love of God. Evergreens adorning the wreath symbolize the living hope of eternal life. The four candles set in the wreath represent the four Sundays until Christmas. Sometimes a fifth candle is added in the center of the wreath: the Christ candle.

The lighting of the candles each week in Advent marks the growing anticipation for the birth of Christ, the Light of the World.

Today we’ll ponder the story each of those candles on the Advent wreath tells.