Advent Sunday marks the beginning of the liturgical Christian year. It is a time of preparation and repentance as the church waits in hope and anticipates the birth of Jesus celebrated at Christmas. The purple colour of the season reflects a tone of penitence and reminds us of John the Baptist’s call to repentance.

“In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” ’

Matthew 3: 1-3 (NRSV)