Virtues on Fire: The Flame of Joy

The third week of Advent is a joyful one. During this week we light the pink candle to symbolize our joy. This candle is the Shepherd’s candle, representing the joy of the shepherds at the birth of Christ and the joy we all share in anticipation of His return.

Luke 2: 8-20 “And the Glory of the Lord shown round them, and they were afraid… But the angel said, “Peace. I bring you good tidings of great joy, for unto you this day is born in the City of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
The shepherds left the manger rejoicing.

Advent is a season of milder penance than Lent, certainly, but it is still a season of preparation. We are to be steadily preparing our hearts throughout the four weeks of Advent to receive the Christ child as he came in the flesh, and to await his second coming which we are promised in Scripture.  Though we continue our preparation, we take a small pause this week to let real joy enter in – to celebrate with awesome thanksgiving the gift that is the Christ child.