Imago Dei Global Communities with Bishop P. Gregory Schell

Christ the Risen Lord

“Christ is Risen!”

This icon depicts the victorious Christ, risen from the dead and holding the Cross, the instrument of His victory over sin and death. His raised hand offers a blessing to all who enter.

The radiant blue mandorla behind Him symbolizes the uncreated light of God’s glory and the new creation inaugurated through the Resurrection.

Reflection

“I am the Resurrection and the Life.” (John 11:25)

Saint Mary Magdalene

Called the “Apostle to the Apostles,” Mary Magdalene was the first witness of Christ’s Resurrection.

She is often shown holding a red egg, symbolizing the Resurrection and the new life found in Christ. The vessel in her hand recalls the myrrh-bearing women who came to anoint Jesus’ body.

Her icon reminds us that faithful love overcomes fear.

Reflection

“I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18)
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Beloved in Christ,

We have reached the Third Week of Advent, and the rose candle we lit this past Sunday breaks into the darker tones of the season. It tells us something important: even in a time of waiting, even in a world that feels heavy, joy is breaking in. More light is coming!

It is fascinating that in this season of joy, so many members of the Body of Christ feel stressed. Social, financial, and family pressures can take their toll, and the reason for the season is often lost in busyness and earthly distractions. While we all sing “Joy to the World,” we seem to lose our “Peace on Earth.”

True joy is not about pretending that everything is perfect. It is not the superficial cheer of holiday commercials or forced smiles. Rather, it is the deep assurance that God is near, that God is faithful, and that God is at work even when we cannot yet see the full picture.

Advent always invites us to wait—to slow down, reflect, and prepare room in our hearts for Christ. Yet this week, the waiting is interrupted by a burst of joy, for it is God’s gift amid our longing for the One who is to come. The message of Advent is not, “Wait, and maybe something good will happen.” The message is, “Rejoice, because something good is already happening. God is already coming to save His people.”

Christian joy is a steady confidence that God is with us—a fruit of the Holy Spirit—a quiet peace that coexists with pain, and a hope stronger than fear.

The joy of the Lord transcends constant happiness. It is not a denial of difficulty or a smile pasted over suffering. It is deeper than emotion. It is a stance, a way of seeing the world through the lens of God’s promises. This joy is not about how we feel, but about who holds us. The Lord is near!

Above all, joy is contagious; it multiplies when shared. Our mission as children of God is to be bearers of joy. A single candle can light another without losing any of its own flame. I believe our greatest evangelistic energy is released when we share joy with a joyless world.

Holy Scripture instructs us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Why? Because the Lord is near—even in the midst of our circumstances and challenges. This is not merely a suggestion, but a choice and a command to the Church.

As we draw closer to the Feast of the Nativity, let the light of the joy candle remind us that the shadows of fear, sin, and sadness are already being overcome by the Light of Christ.

Invite the Light of Joy that opens our hearts.
Let the Light of Joy transform you.
Carry the Light into the world, so that others may see in us the joy of God’s coming.

Lovingly in Christ,
++P. Gregory Schell

Beloved in Christ,

As we light the second candle of Advent, we remember that Christ comes as the Prince of Peace. This week invites us to pause in the midst of our busyness, to breathe deeply, and to let God’s peace settle into the places where worry and restlessness live.

Like John the Baptist calling out in the wilderness, Advent reminds us to prepare a way in our hearts—clearing what is crooked or cluttered—so that Christ’s peace may take root within us and radiate outward to the world.

The second week shifts from sacred waiting and hope toward preparation—not only preparing for Christmas, but spiritually preparing for the coming of Christ.

Here the theme is peace, rooted in divine wisdom. Christ, the Prince of Peace, offers a peace that the world cannot give. This season calls believers to pursue peace in every area of life.

As John the Baptist declared, “Prepare the way of the Lord,” the emphasis is on repentance, renewal, and making the heart ready to receive Christ. We are invited to look inward and ask: What needs to be changed? What obstacles need to be removed? How can I walk more faithfully in the call of the Kingdom?

Now, with two candles lit, the wreath symbolizes increasing light breaking into the darkness—mirroring the growing anticipation of Christ’s arrival.

May you continue to invite the Light of Christ into your life as we journey through this Advent Season. May the baptism of Christ’s Fire ignite in you purification, power, passion, and Divine Presence as we sojourn to the Feast of the Nativity.

Lovingly in Christ,
++P. Gregory