There is a rich church tradition where each candle represents a chapter of the Christmas story: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

Deep Assurance:
The first candle reminds us of the prophets in the Hebrew Bible. These ancient texts, many of which we read during Christmas, offered a people living in difficult times the assurance that God had not left them. They promised that God was actively working out a purpose to reconcile all creation.

In our current climate, many of us need to re-hear these messages. We need a hope that is not merely optimism-a wish for a good outcome-but a deep assurance of God being present with us. As Isaiah wrote: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light." - Isaiah 9:2

Defiant Hope:
Yet, our hope can be even more robust than simple comfort. As Brian McLaren writes in Life After Doom, we are called to a "defiant hope." This is not a passive waiting; it is the strength that enables us to keep going and to keep loving, regardless of the circumstances. It is a hope that acts, knowing that God's light is the source of our endurance.

It is from this sturdy, defiant hope that we find the Peace of the second Advent candle. True peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of the Light.

This Week's Invitation:
 As we move toward the second Sunday of Advent, let us be on the lookout for our contemporary prophets-those voices in our lives and world who offer true hope and encourage us to continue loving. They remind us that even now, God's light can be found, even as we wait for God's complete reconciliation

Blessings,
Paul and the St Denys team.