On the fourth week of Advent, we light the final purple candle to mark the final week of prayer and penance as we wait for the birth of our Savior. This final candle, the “Angel’s Candle,” symbolizes peace. It reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”
Angels are God's messengers. Angels appear in the Old Testament and the New Testament alike. Angels guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden, appear to Abraham, Lot and his wife, and to Isaac and Jacob. The prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah were all visited by angels. But most importantly, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in Luke's Gospel in the New Testament announcing the Incarnation of God, our Savior Jesus the Christ.
Take time one night this week and have your family write notes of thanks to the messengers in your lives.
-Think of the mail carrier, Amazon delivery drivers, the UPS and FedEX delivery people.
-Think also of your pastors and deacons who share God's message with us.
-Who else? What about your workplace, school, or parish secretaries and receptionists?
Write a simple and sincere note -- maybe attach it to a hot coco packet or rice krispie treat! God's messages came in spectacular ways! Make your thoughts and show of appreciation spectacular, too!
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,[a] and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
behold, the angel of the Lord[c] appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. 21 She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,[d] because he will save his people from their sins.
God of Good News, thank you for sending your angel Gabriel to bring a message of hope and salvation to your handmaid Mary. Thank you for sending your angel to reassure Joseph that he, too, was part of God's plan for salvation. Thank you for our guardian angels who never leave our sides. Help us to not only hear you message but to listen to your plan for our family. Bestow us with the grace needed to be messengers of your words, love and mercy to all whom we encounter, seeing Jesus in the faces of all we meet. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.