“Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior” – Psalm 25
We are now in the third week of Advent and light the pink candle on the Advent wreath – the candle of joy. In a special way, this third week of Advent calls us to prepare and wait with joyful expectation for the coming of Jesus. We are called to look for joy in our daily lives and to be people of joy in the world. As we witness injustice, sickness and death in our world today, it can be challenging to be joyful. So how might we as people of faith live with Advent joy?
Psalm 25 offers some guidance and wisdom. Joy comes from being guided in truth and learning the Lord’s ways. As the psalmist tells us, the ways of the Lord are compassion and kindness. The Lord shows sinners the way and guides the humble to justice. Advent is a time of joyful waiting – a joy that comes from being taught the Lord’s ways, being guided in his truth, and living out his compassion and kindness in a sinful, unjust world.
Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Lucy who lived the wisdom of psalm 25. Guided in the Lord’s paths, Saint Lucy joyfully maintained her faith in God even to the point of death. Known as the patron saint of the blind, Saint Lucy had a spiritual sight which allowed her to know and follow God’s ways. May Saint Lucy pray for us that we may see the Lord’s paths and live with compassion, kindness and joy this Advent season and always.
Dr. Carolyn Herman
To view the full Advent 2021 booklet in English, click here.
For Spanish, click here.
For French, click here.