On the fourth Sunday of Advent, our candlelighter carefully re-lit the first candle on our Advent wreath.

We relight the candle of Hope.

Just as carefully, she re-lit the second candle.

We relight the candle of Peace.

Then she re-lit the one pink candle.

We relight the candle of Joy.

Finally, she lit the remaining candle.

We light the candle of Love.

Four candles on the Advent wreath. Four themes in anticipation of the birth of Christ.

But wait—she wasn’t done yet. Normally our church would leave those four candles lit for the rest of our worship on the fourth Sunday of Advent. But this year, with Christmas just a few days away, and since we would not be gathering on Christmas Day, our litany continued.

Our candelighter lit the Christ candle at the center of the wreath, symbolizing the birth of Christ. The other candles were extinguished, and then she carried the Christ candle from the Advent wreath to the cross at the front of the church. There a manger had been placed at the foot of the cross, and there she placed the candle in the manger.

For some reason, the symbolism struck me even more forcefully than in other years. The Advent candles had been lit in anticipation of hope, peace, joy, and love. They were signs of waiting, signs of God’s promise. But with the birth of Christ, God’s promise was fulfilled! It’s as if we no longer needed those other candles, for now Jesus IS our hope, peace, joy, and love.

And yet—the reality of being human means that we live in the already, but not yet. Christ has come—yet we are still waiting for Christ to come again. There is real hope, peace, joy, and love even now—yet there is more to come.

So if you’re feeling short on hope this year, if you grieve over the lack of peace in our world today, if your joy is tempered by sorrow, if love feels elusive—yet may you also know that Jesus has already come and walks with us today by his Spirit. May God’s comfort and joy be yours this Christmas and always, even in this time of already, but not yet.

Writing/Reflection Prompt: In what way(s) do you already experience hope, peace, joy, and love? In what way(s) are you still waiting?