Sermon: The Advent Wreath — December 11, 2024

This is the word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. AMEN. 

It’s the second Sunday in the season of Advent. And so, since we have answered the all-important question about whether Christmas trees are pagan or not, we can get back to what really matters: wreaths. What purpose do they serve? What do they symbolize? What are we supposed to learn from them?

First, the symbolism of candles is almost always the same, depending on the circumstance. It usually involves focusing our attention and intention on the candle. When we light a candle and see the flame go up, we see it as carrying our prayers to God’s heavenly throne. We light the candles, and then that flicker becomes a physical representation of our prayers.

The candle lighting is also very closely related to memory, as strange as that may sound. For example, in some Christian traditions, they have retained the practice of remembering the dead, their beloved departed, by lighting a candle. We light the candles also to remember the time of Advent, of Jesus’ coming. So when you see the candle and the wreath together, you can understand what it’s about in the sense that it also has to do with darkening and the coming damn of light, death, and new life.

As we approach Christmas, we are approaching the Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Lighting candles, especially before electricity eliminated the practical need for candles, preserves memory and light. Preserving light preserves hope that winter will soon be over and spring will dawn, exploding with new life. So, lighting a candle is also a symbol of hope and memory.

This is the most important thing about the wreath, then. It is a symbol of hope and memory. It’s preserving for today what happened in the past and will come in the future.

That brings us to the wreath. The wreath is something green in a time when everything is dying. Having something green at this time of year is an act of remembrance. As we approach the solstice, moving towards death, we are preparing for the light that will come in the dark and appear at Christmas.

So, by clearing away popular misconceptions about the advent wreath, we are uncovering symbolism that goes back to Genesis and is deeply rooted in salvation history.

The wreath's circular form represents the living God, who has no beginning or end. Likewise, the design represents God's irrevocable eternal promises. The evergreen boughs signify the enduring hope found in salvation, a story that is literally as old as time. It is woven throughout Scripture and into the lives of the Church and Christians, which means it is connected to Jesus's life-death-resurrection cycle and the crown he wears as prophet, priest, and king.

Now, returning to the candles, we see that they illuminate the path of Christ’s coming, the one who opens to us the pages of salvation history. In this way, each candle—hope, peace, joy, and love—functions as a flickering beacon that guides us through the unfolding divine narrative.

Thus, the circle, the candles, and the evergreen elements intertwine, encapsulating God's movement leading his people from the beginning in Genesis to the ultimate revelation of Christ in glory on the Last Day.

So, like the misconception surrounding Christmas trees, where distortions cloud the Genesis narrative, the advent wreath stands as a Christian symbol that exposes its assumed pagan influences. To repeat what I said in the sermon last week, pagan rites and symbols are distortions of the truth, not the other way around.

The advent wreath is a sacred emblem, a visual testament to God's ongoing redemption work. The wreath, with its timeless symbols, invites you to reflect on the eternal truths embedded in the story of Christmas.

As we look at the wreath, it’s a reminder then that it’s not just a symbol of seasonal festivities but of the cosmic story unfolding in our midst. The evergreen boughs point you to God's enduring love, the circle focuses your attention on the unbreakable nature of his promises, and the candles illuminate your way through the warp and weft of salvation history, all woven by the divine hand, revealing a story that began in Genesis and continues to unfold in your lives today, and into eternity. 

It’s worth repeating that this is the most important thing about the wreath. It is a symbol of hope and memory, preserving for today what happened in the past and will come in the future.

In this perpetual cycle of hope and memory, the wreath becomes a timeless symbol, a silent witness to the unfolding truth about human existence. Each delicate leaf and vibrant hue interwoven into its circular form encapsulates the tales told for millennia about God’s resilience, joy, and his undying Spirit of hope, which he bestows upon each of you in the primordial, life-giving waters of baptism.

Finally, as you adorn your homes with wreaths, you partake in a tradition that transcends the boundaries of culture and time. It's more than a decorative ornament; it's a communal gesture, a testament to the One whose Spirit shines the light of truth upon the darkest nights to reveal the promise of a new dawn.

So, in each wreath, you see not just a symbol but a picture of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Light of the world. It’s a reminder that with and through him, hope is a perpetual flame, illuminating the path you tread from birth to death to new life. It’s a recalling of God’s ancient promises from the past that are received by you today to shine the light of hope on your future, a future that, like the past and present, is dominated by the love that God has for you in Jesus Christ. 

This is the word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing, you may have life in his name. AMEN.