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| The Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, Bolivar, Tennessee appointed for Advent |
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| The Advent Wreath of First United Methodist Church, Bolivar, Tennessee |
As I have noted in earlier posts, the current interpretation
of Advent strives to separate itself from being a mere mirror image of
Lent. One of the visuals that the season
uses in this differentiation is the employment of the color blue rather than
the purple/lavender that was so long associated with this time. Blue has
been used in church iconography in association with Mary the mother of
Jesus. Madonnas and other depictions of
Mary frequently have her dressed in whole or in part in blue. It is a fitting symbol of the season.
But blue is also representational of the quality of hope. It is distinct from all shades of
purple. It is a hue that points to an
anticipation of heaven (after all, the sky is blue – and according to ancient
cosmologies, that’s where heaven is!).
Advent is a time of anticipation – isn’t that often another
word for “hope?” In this season we
anticipate, we hope for, Jesus’ return in glory even as we look to a time of
celebrating anew his coming into human history for the redemption of the world. A season that points to these ends deserves
its own identity. And its own color.
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