Advent opens a door to reflection and anticipation, inviting us to pause and step away from the busyness that threatens to consume December. While the culture urges us to do more, buy more, and hustle harder, we are called to something quieter—a season shaped by discernment, dependence, and devotion to Jesus. This Advent season, the church extends an invitation to break from the patterns of endless consumption and instead embrace fasting, both physical and digital, as a tangible way to hunger for Jesus. In this, we cultivate a posture of expectation, one that mirrors the tension of looking backward and forward to Christ’s coming.
The introduction of black candles this year brings a fresh perspective to the Advent tradition. Each candle represents an extreme emotion, reflecting the world’s brokenness that Jesus entered. It resonates with the ache of humanity—banishment, fear, and aloneness—that Adam and Eve carried from the garden. Christmas often becomes our attempt to recreate that lost paradise, longing to escape shame and isolation. But the beauty lies in the culmination of this ritual: extinguishing the black candles at the candlelight service, a powerful act signifying Jesus taking these burdens upon Himself.
Joseph’s story exemplifies this tension of aloneness. His life, neatly planned around marriage, carpentry, and community, is upended by Mary’s divine pregnancy. What should have been a season of joy becomes one of deep contemplation and turmoil. Joseph, betrothed yet betrayed (or so it seemed), faces a decision that isolates him from societal norms. To expose Mary meant disgrace and death; to marry her meant a shadow of suspicion over their family. In his pondering, Joseph’s humanity is palpable. Who could he confide in? Who would understand?
It is in Joseph’s moment of solitude that God intervenes. The angel’s words, “Do not be afraid,” are not merely a command but a lifeline. Joseph’s perspective shifts from his small, personal story to one that centers on God’s purpose. Though the road ahead is steep, Joseph obeys, choosing trust over fear, and devotion over doubt. His faithfulness not only reshapes his story but anchors him in the larger narrative of Emmanuel—God with us. Through Joseph’s obedience, we are reminded that God often asks for more, but always offers more in return.
This Advent, Joseph’s journey offers a mirror for our own experiences of loneliness and disrupted plans. Like him, we face a choice: to frame our stories around our fears or to lean into God’s rewriting of them. When we invite God into our moments of aloneness, we discover a deeper dependency on Him. This dependency births clarity, leading us to a bigger story—one where God is the center and our trust grows stronger.
Advent invites us to reflect not just on the arrival of Christ, but on the journey of those, like Joseph, who trusted in the midst of uncertainty. This season, as we light candles and observe traditions, may we remember that Emmanuel has come. We are not alone; we are not abandoned. And like Joseph, we are invited to respond with faith, stepping into a story that transforms our lives and brings glory to God.
