Love Displayed in Bethlehem: The Second Sunday of Advent
- Anna Portillo
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
by Anna Portillo
Sunday, December 7, 2025
join us for weekly Advent devotions & daily readings, from Vive Charlotte Church (available in English & Spanish)
Remember that the word “Advent” means “coming.” On the first Sunday of Advent, we lit the first candle of the Advent wreath: the candle of hope foretold, reminding us that God had promised even from the beginning of the story of sin and suffering, to give His people the hope of redemption in His Son, Jesus. Seeing the light of this little candle flickering - with four candles left to light - gives us a visual reminder that God’s promise of Redemption is still unfolding. The Hope of a Messiah (Savior) coming to bring light and life and redemption into even the darkest places of our lives unfolds throughout the story of Scripture, even as the readings and reflections for last week helped us to see.
Indeed, God promised not just hope, but a specific hope of His chosen Messiah, coming at an exact place and time in history, with the specific purpose of pouring out His immeasurable love upon His wayward people. This Sunday, we lit the second candle on the Advent Wreath, alongside the first candle of Hope Foretold. The light of two candles now shining together is a...[click here to read more]
Anna Portillo is the wife of HLI's Executive Director, José Portillo. Aside from being a wife and mother, Anna is a freelance author and editor in her spare time, with a number of published books and devotionals for adults and children. She also writes regularly for the Retratos blog, and serves in Women's ministries and in leading worship and Vive Charlotte Church.
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