Advent Sunday 4

The fourth candle is the candle of love.

As our journey through Advent reaches Christmas Eve, stories from Gaza, Ukraine and many less-noticed parts of the world sadden and disturb us. People remain the victims of war, conflict and oppression. 

Attitudes of hatred and division give way to persecution, causing many to flee to places of safety, bringing with them stories of indescribable cruelty and abuse.  

Yet all too often they are met with attitudes of indifference. Perceived as a threat, their plight fuels demands for more controlled borders to stem their migrant flow. 

Individuals turn on those around them in unexpected acts of violence, bringing pain and bereavement in an instant, where there had been festive celebrations only moments before - we pray especially this weekend for the people of Prague

But those who seek the light of Christ in the midst of this darkness, remember and declare that love will always overcome evil and that when these things are passed, love will remain.