Reclaiming the Heart of Advent: A Mystical Journey into Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love

Many of us navigate the holiday season with a nagging sense that something deeper is missing. Amidst the lights, the gatherings, the carols, the gifts and the “cheer” there’s an undercurrent of desire to just simply put our head down and plow through until January while asking the question “What’s the point?”Maybe it’s navigating the pain of past wounds, the weight of grief, the tension of family complications, the financial and personal strain of trying to create a magical Christmas when there’s already more month than money. Whatever it is, the overwhelming noise of cultural Christmas can be staggering. Now for all of you folks out there are enjoy the finer points of Christmas, please understand I’m not here to call any of that inherently wrong. However, I will say many of those things can distract us from the deeper notes of the significance of this time. So if you enjoy those things, go in peace! However, I want to hone in on that question “What’s the point?”In order to do that, we need to take a step back and reorient ourselves to the significance of Advent beyond just a celebration on a specific day and look at how the story of Advent is a reflection on our place in God's story for humanity.

Why Advent?

First off let’s look at Advent. That’s a word that has varied significance. For many who don’t engage in liturgical practices, it’s simply a churchy synonym for Christmas. For others it’s the start of the liturgical calendar.

While the specific practices can change slightly depending on the church and denomination, Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation. Traditionally, it’s a liturgical season leading up to Christmas, marked by reflection on four key pillars: hope, peace, joy, and love.

Yet, Advent isn’t just about looking back on Christ’s birth. It’s also about living in the in-between—acknowledging the tension of a world awaiting the second coming of Christ while experiencing His presence here and now and this is where I believe some of our more liturgical brothers and sisters may have a leg up on us. It’s an unfortunate fact that for many the entire idea of Christmas has centered around the manger the baby being born without equipping folks to see the big picture and in the information age that has left many asking if it’s even okay for us to celebrate the holiday at all. Worst kept secret in the Christianity? Jesus wasn’t born on December 25. Also, many of the details that have become normalized about the story through church plays likely aren’t accurate. The thing is…that’s okay and in fact those components are not the point of the celebration.

For many, cultural Christmas has become so familiar that its true significance gets buried. By shifting our focus to Advent, we reframe the season as an opportunity to connect deeply with God, not just celebrate a date.

A Mystical Perspective on Advent

The word “mystical” often carries baggage. It can conjure images of esoteric rituals or vague spirituality. But at its heart, Christian mysticism is simply about experiencing a personal, transformative relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Advent invites us into this mystical journey. It’s a daily call to engage with God’s story—past, present, and future—and to lean into the promises He has made and fulfilled.

In the past, God fulfilled His promise through the birth of Jesus, offering redemption and a restored relationship with Him.
In the present, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live as image-bearers, bringing His love and life to the world.
In the future, we await the ultimate reconciliation of heaven and earth.

This isn’t abstract theology. It’s an invitation to live out hope, peace, joy, and love in real, tangible ways—right here and now.

The Four Pillars of Advent

HopeRepresented by the Prophecy Candle, hope reminds us of God’s promises fulfilled in Christ. As Isaiah 7:14 says:“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”This hope is more than wishful thinking. It’s a confident expectation grounded in the faithfulness of God.
PeaceThe Bethlehem Candle points to the peace that Christ brings, even in the midst of life’s chaos. Jesus reconciles us to God and offers a peace that surpasses understanding.
JoyThe Shepherd’s Candle calls us to rejoice, just as the shepherds did when they heard of Christ’s birth. This shouldn’t be mistaken for happiness and it can live in the midst of the complication, grief, heartache and tension. It’s rooted in the abiding presence of God with us.
LoveThe Angel’s Candle celebrates the radical love of God, who sent His Son to redeem us. It’s a love so profound that it transforms us and calls us to love others as Christ loves us. Now it should be stated this is more than a call to charity. Giving can be a form of love but this is much deeper and not meant to be just another strain.

These themes aren’t confined to a liturgical framework; they’re an invitation to live out our faith daily. Like music or the sermon, liturgy is simply a tool that’s available to us to worship and connect with God.

Finding Meaning Beyond December 25th

Advent pushes us to look past the noise of cultural Christmas—the hustle and bustle, the financial pressures, and the endless to-do lists—and focus on the story of God’s love and redemption.

This isn’t about rejecting holiday traditions. Gifts, gatherings, and even carols can be meaningful expressions of love and joy. But when they become the focus, we risk missing the deeper invitation of this season: intimacy with God.

Living in the Tension

As followers of Christ, we live in a unique tension. We celebrate the grace we’ve already received while longing for the ultimate fulfillment of God’s kingdom. In this in-between, we get to live in an active relationship with God. One where He DOES NOT ignore or belittle the very real emotions and situations that we experience as humans but provides a deeper reality and a means to carry us through the chaos while we in turn carry that same hope, peace, joy and love bringing the reality of God’s kingdom into the here and now.

This is the heart of Advent. It’s not just about preparing for Christmas Day but about living daily in light of God’s story and our place in it. Like we talked about last week, that doesn’t mean that we don’t face struggles, emotions or complications. It simply means that our identity and God’s presence in the midst of it doesn’t change.

A Practical Invitation

If you’re looking for a way to reframe this season, consider immersing yourself in the Scriptures that speak to these Advent themes. For example:

Hope: Isaiah 9:2–7
Peace: Luke 2:8–14
Joy: Philippians 4:4–7
Love: 1 John 4:9–12

The key though is understanding that while each of these pillars are applicable to the season of Advent, they remain applicable today, in our lives now. They remain aspects of the life we have in relationship with God.

Advent reminds us that we are part of a greater story. It’s a story of a God who loves us deeply, walks with us daily, and calls us to partner with Him in bringing His kingdom to earth.

And remember: the invitation to intimacy with God is always open. If your soul longs for more of Him, you’re in good company.