There is a line in our call to worship this morning that feels especially tender as we approach Christmas: “Today we acknowledge our pain and the pain we have caused others.”

Beloved, Advent does not ask us to hide our wounds. Advent invites us to bring them into the light. And today, as we light the fourth candle, we name that this candle shines for those who carry the wounds of life. Wounds from grief. Wounds from fractured relationships. Wounds from disappointment or regret. Wounds we have received, and wounds we have inflicted.

And into that honest space, we prayed: “Grant that we might have the peace of Christ as we wait, the love of Christ as we act, and the grace of Christ as we speak.” This is the heart of the fourth Sunday of Advent: love that meets us in our broken places.

A Sign of Love in a Time of Fear (Isaiah 7)

Our first reading takes us to a moment of deep anxiety. King Ahaz is terrified… surrounded by enemies, unsure of the future, unable to trust that God will act. And into that fear, God offers a sign: “A young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”

Emmanuel—God with us. This is not a sign of power or conquest. It is not a sign of military victory or political triumph. It is the sign of a child—fragile, vulnerable, dependent. God’s answer to fear is love. God’s answer to uncertainty is presence. God’s answer to wounded people is companionship. Emmanuel is God’s way of saying, “I will not leave you alone in your pain.” This is the love of Advent 4: love that draws near, even when the world feels unsteady.

Restore Us, O God (Psalm 80)

Psalm 80 gives voice to the cry of the wounded: “Restore us, O God… let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

This is not a polished prayer. It is a plea from people who feel abandoned, broken, and bruised by life. And yet—even in their pain—they turn toward God. They ask for restoration. They ask for light. They ask for life.

The psalmist teaches us that love is not sentimental. Love is the courage to ask for healing. Love is the trust that God’s face still shines, even when the night feels long. Love is the hope that God can restore what has been damaged.

The fourth candle burns for this kind of love: love that heals, love that restores, love that shines in the darkness.

Love That Calls Us Beloved (Romans 1)

Paul opens his letter to the Romans with a greeting that feels like a blessing for Advent: “To all God’s beloved… grace to you and peace.”

Beloved.

Before Paul says anything else—before he teaches, before he corrects, before he encourages—he names the church as beloved. This is the foundation of Advent love: God loves us first. Not because we are perfect. Not because we are strong. Not because we have everything figured out. God loves us because love is who God is.

And Paul reminds us that the gospel is not an idea—it is a person. A person who comes to us in vulnerability. A person who enters the world through a wounded people. A person who brings love not by avoiding pain, but by redeeming it. This is the love of the fourth candle: love that meets us exactly where we are.

Joseph’s Quiet, Courageous Love (Matthew 1)

And then we come to Joseph. Joseph is a man caught in a painful situation. His world has been upended. His trust has been shaken. His future feels uncertain.

Matthew tells us that Joseph is “a righteous man”—not because he is perfect, but because he is compassionate. He chooses mercy over anger. He chooses gentleness over judgment. He chooses love over pride.

And into Joseph’s wounded heart, God speaks: “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. Do not be afraid of what others will say. Do not be afraid of the unknown. Do not be afraid, because this child is from the Holy Spirit. Do not be afraid, because he will save his people from their sins. Do not be afraid, because he is Emmanuel—God with us.

Joseph’s story reminds us that love is not always loud. Love is not always easy. Love is not always understood. But love is always courageous. Love is always healing. Love is always God’s way of entering the world.

Lighting the Fourth Candle

So today, as we light the fourth candle, we name this truth: Love is God’s answer to the wounds of the world.

The first candle taught us to hope while we wait.

The second candle strengthened the weary.

The third candle awakened us to God’s glory.

The fourth candle shines for the wounded—for those who need restoration, for those who long for healing, for those who carry burdens too heavy to name. This candle burns for you. For your wounds. For your healing. For your love.

As the light grows brighter, so does the promise of Emmanuel—God with us.

Conclusion

Beloved, Advent love is not fragile. It is not shallow. It is not dependent on everything going right.

Advent love is the love of a God who enters our wounds. A God who restores us. A God who shines upon us. A God who comes to be with us—fully, tenderly, faithfully.

May this fourth candle remind you that your wounds are seen, your healing is possible, and your love is needed.

For the child who is born to Mary and Joseph is the One who rescues the lost, helps the hurting, binds up the broken, and brings love to the world. Amen.