Advent Purple

 

What’s your favorite color? Mine is red. I’ve always liked red, and people say I look good in red. What about purple? Do you like the color purple? Purple is the color you get between red and blue. I don’t like purple as much as I like red, but many people do.

There are many shades of purple. We have lavender, mauve, lilac and plum. Orchid, indigo, violet and pansy. Why, there’s even eggplant and fuchsia.

In the Bible, very rich people wore purple clothing. The ancient priests wore them at the altar. There is also a lady named Lydia who sold purple goods and was a good friend of St. Paul.

We use purple during Advent, the season before Christmas. Purple means that we should turn away from sin and turn to God our Father. It means we deny ourselves pleasure or fun and give all our attention to Jesus’ call to follow Him. We know how excited we get for Christmas. Advent us a time to prepare for Christmas through prayer and listening to God’s Word. Purple makes us feel like doing that.

Now, next week, I will talk about pink, but for today, let’s stick to purple. Our Advent wreathe has three purple candles. Last week, we lit one purple candle. Today, we lit two purple candles because today is the Second Sunday of Advent.

The first Advent candle is known as the prophecy candle or candle of hope. The second is called the Bethlehem candle or the candle of peace. And the fourth is called the angel candle or the candle of love. Hope, peace and love.

As we draw nearer to Christmas, we’re going to be so busy and so excited, and the purple candles of the Advent wreathe will keep our minds fixed on God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – so that we remember the true reason for celebrating Christmas: Jesus.

Jesus not only gives us hope, peace and love, but is all three. As you go throughout your days for the next few weeks, focus on Jesus. When you think you or someone else needs a little hope, peace and love, think of the color purple and pray.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless all children, and give their fathers and mothers the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.