The Fourth Week of Advent

The Fourth Week of Advent draws us close to Christmas, a time for reflection on the theme of love, symbolized by the fourth Advent candle. This candle, also called the “Angel’s Candle,” represents God’s love for us, which is expressed so clearly in the birth of Jesus.

• 1 John 4:9-11: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

• Luke 1:46-55: In Mary’s song, the Magnificat, she praises God’s greatness and mercy, expressing her joy and awe at being chosen as the mother of Jesus.

  
  

As we light the candle of love, we remember that God’s love is a love that sacrifices, that extends to the marginalized, and that doesn’t require us to be perfect. In the story of Mary, we see a young woman, humble and of low status, chosen for a great purpose because of her trust and openness to God. Mary’s response to God’s call reminds us to open our own hearts to God’s purpose, no matter where we are in life.

Love is central to the Christmas story: God sent Jesus, born in a manger, to show us what love looks like in action. This week, we are invited to reflect on the kind of love we show in our own lives. Are we willing to sacrifice, serve, and go out of our way to care for others?

Pray:

Heavenly Father, as we approach Christmas, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, the greatest demonstration of love. Help us to love others as You have loved us, with patience, humility, and kindness. May we live out this love in ways that bring peace and joy to those around us. Prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and make us mindful of the love that You have poured out over us. Amen.

A Practical Action

Show love in a tangible way this week: Reach out to someone who may be lonely or in need of encouragement. Small gestures—like a phone call, a handwritten note, or even baking a treat for a neighbor—reflect the love we celebrate in Advent.