On the Second Sunday of Advent, we light the Bethlehem Candle, a symbol of peace and God’s love. Advent calls us to remember Christ’s first coming in humility and to look forward to His return in glory. The prophet Isaiah foretold: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1). As John the Baptist prepared the way, so we prepare our hearts — seeking peace with God and one another, trusting in the One who brings judgment and mercy, love and reconciliation.
