Reflections on the Third Week of Advent
As the third Advent candle flickers to life, we stand at the threshold between waiting and wonder, caught in that magical space where joy begins to overflow.
The air feels different now – charged with anticipation, like the moment before sunrise when the world holds its breath in expectation of dawn.
The Dawn of Joy
There’s something profound about this particular turning point in our Advent journey. For two weeks, we’ve dwelt in the quiet spaces of hope and peace, learning patience in the darkness. But now, as Christmas draws nearer, that patience transforms into something more dynamic, more alive.
It’s like watching children in these pre-Christmas days, their excitement building with each passing moment, unable to contain the joy that bubbles up from deep within.
I’m reminded of my own childhood Christmases, when sleep was impossible on Christmas Eve. I would lie awake, watching the shadows play across my ceiling, every creak of the house sending my heart racing with possibility. Was that Santa? Had the magic begun?
That same anticipation fills our churches and homes now, as we light the third candle. We’re no longer just waiting – we’re preparing for joy itself to break into our world.
The ancient prophecies we read during this season speak of this very transformation. Isaiah’s words echo across millennia: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom.” This isn’t just about a future happiness; it’s about a joy so powerful it can transform the very landscape of our lives. We see this in Mary’s song of praise, in the shepherds’ wonder, in the wise men’s journey – joy doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances. It arrives in stables and fields, in ordinary moments made extraordinary by the presence of divine love.
In our modern world, weighted with headlines of sorrow and uncertainty, this kind of joy might seem naive or shallow. But Advent joy is neither of these things. It’s not a denial of darkness but a defiance of it. Like the first light of dawn breaking through winter darkness, it doesn’t eliminate the shadows – it transforms how we see them.
This joy is both a gift and a choice, a divine spark that invites our participation.
As we move through this third week of Advent, we’re learning to hold two truths simultaneously: joy is already here, present in every act of kindness, every moment of wonder, every expression of love; and joy is still coming, drawing nearer with each passing day.
The approaching celebration of Christ’s birth isn’t just about remembering a historical event – it’s about recognizing that same holy joy breaking into our world today.
Each small tradition we embrace in these days – hanging ornaments, sharing meals, singing carols – becomes a practice in joy-keeping. These aren’t just activities to pass the time until Christmas; they’re holy preparations, teaching our hearts to be ready for joy, training our eyes to spot it in unexpected places. They remind us that joy isn’t meant to be a seasonal visitor but a faithful companion, walking with us through all our days.
In this third week of Advent, as we light our candles and sing our carols, we’re doing more than marking time. We’re practicing joy, learning its rhythms, preparing our hearts for the great celebration to come. And in doing so, we discover that joy isn’t just about the destination – it’s about how we travel toward it, hearts open, eyes bright with wonder, ready to be surprised by delight in even the most ordinary moments.
The light grows stronger. Christmas approaches. And joy, like dawn breaking over the horizon, spills into our world once again.
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