For this week, we’ll cover the third candle, the candle of joy. Instead of the previous two weeks of purple or violet candles, this week, the candle's colour will be different: pink. As a reminder, three candles are purple, one is pink, and the one in the centre is white.
Churches will light three candles this week.
During this third week of advent, this Sunday celebrates the passage Philippians 4:4-5, its verses extolling readers to “rejoice” for “indeed the Lord is near.”
This third week of Advent, let us remember that the good news of Jesus’ birth can bring us great joy this Christmas season.
Our joy isn’t dependent on what is going on in our life, in our world, or the people that we are with. It doesn’t depend on the gifts we give or find under the tree. No earthly thing can ever give us complete joy.
Our joy comes from knowing Christ. That joy that flooded the hearts of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the hosts of heaven, and Mary and Joseph is the joy that still can overwhelm our hearts with rejoicing.