First Sunday of Advent Reading

There are different interpretations and traditions surrounding the season of advent: wreath-making (here’s a great article with more about this), lighting candles, singing certain songs, and reading specific Bible passages. All of these traditions celebrate one thing: the “advent” (important event) of Christ’s birth.

Each Sunday, I will share a scripture passage and song for the season of Advent. For those who are Christians, let’s celebrate this season joyously together. For those who are not, you are welcome to follow along to learn more about this tradition (and you can feel free to share some of your own).

This Sunday, the first candle symbolizes hope.

Before Christ’s birth, those who believed the words of the prophets waited with hope. Many generations came and went, without seeing their hopes fulfilled. And what were they waiting and hoping for?

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:14

“The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.”

Isaiah 9:2-7

They were hoping for a light, a king, and Immanuel (which means “God with us” in Hebrew). The prophet Isaiah made these prophecies over 700 years before Jesus was born. He prophesied that a virgin would conceive and give birth, that there would be a child who would be called those names you may have heard in Handel’s Messiah- He would be called by God’s name, meaning He would truly be God.

There were many other prophesies given to Israel over the years, sometimes in dark times when hope seemed lost. But that first candle shining in the darkness reminds us that the light of hope can still offer us comfort and that the darkness is not forever.