Light a Candle For Christ
Light a Candle for Christ
As far as I am aware there are only two times throughout the year that the "Christ Candle" is not flickering during the Christian worship service. The first time is the three days between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and the second time occurs during the four weeks of Advent. The "Christ Candle" may not be a familiar concept for most, but it remains a powerful image in the life of the people of God. Candles fill the imagination with possibilities. Their light dispels the darkness and suddenly gives much needed insight to one's surroundings. Image the sun breaking over the horizon, filling the world with a new day of hope.
The Power of a Good Symbol
Have you ever lost power in you house? It was the middle of the afternoon when this last occurred in my home. I can still remember an ominous feeling, as the sun slowly retreated and darkness crept into our home. I felt powerless as there was nothing that could be done to retard its progression. Eventually, everything was dark. This always seems to be a painful reality as I continually suffer from what I call "furniture arrangement amnesia". This is a condition in which one forgets where the coffee table is in one's living room and ends up smashing his shin on the corner, hopping on one foot, and eventually spilling over, head first into the recliner. However, that ominous feeling is dashed the moment I am able to light a candle.
The Christ Candle promotes this kind of symbolism and imagery. Regardless of all the symbolic, and many times literal, darkness that seems to overwhelm our world, the light of Christ through His word (The Bible) and his people (The Church) scatters the shadows and brings healing and hope to all people in all places. Every Sunday, when we light the Christ Candle, I am filled with hope and wonder, reminded of the fact that Christ is living and able to forgive and heal sinful, broken people and places.
From Anticipation to Realization
If is for this reason that I am amazed that we begin the Church year, the very first weeks of the Christian calendar with the Christ Candle unlit! Why? Throughout the Advent season we find ourselves continually longing for that middle candle to be aflame, as the candles surrounding it, one by one illuminate the evergreen wreath (which offers the profound imagery of eternity). Four candles, three purple and one pink, act as a John the Baptist, an Isaiah, and even a psalm writing David illuminating the only real hope that we have in this life, Christ himself. Each week, with a little more light, the answer becomes progressively clear. Until, finally we light that long expected candle. Finally, we cease singing "Come thou long expected Jesus" and our voices ring out the chorus "Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king." Blessings this Advent season, and may the joy of the Lord fill you heart with anticipation, hope, and gladness.
Light a Candle For Christ
Light a Candle for Christ
As far as I am aware there are only two times throughout the year that the "Christ Candle" is not flickering during the Christian worship service. The first time is the three days between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and the second time occurs during the four weeks of Advent. The "Christ Candle" may not be a familiar concept for most, but it remains a powerful image in the life of the people of God. Candles fill the imagination with possibilities. Their light dispels the darkness and suddenly gives much needed insight to one's surroundings. Image the sun breaking over the horizon, filling the world with a new day of hope.
The Power of a Good Symbol
Have you ever lost power in you house? It was the middle of the afternoon when this last occurred in my home. I can still remember an ominous feeling, as the sun slowly retreated and darkness crept into our home. I felt powerless as there was nothing that could be done to retard its progression. Eventually, everything was dark. This always seems to be a painful reality as I continually suffer from what I call "furniture arrangement amnesia". This is a condition in which one forgets where the coffee table is in one's living room and ends up smashing his shin on the corner, hopping on one foot, and eventually spilling over, head first into the recliner. However, that ominous feeling is dashed the moment I am able to light a candle.
The Christ Candle promotes this kind of symbolism and imagery. Regardless of all the symbolic, and many times literal, darkness that seems to overwhelm our world, the light of Christ through His word (The Bible) and his people (The Church) scatters the shadows and brings healing and hope to all people in all places. Every Sunday, when we light the Christ Candle, I am filled with hope and wonder, reminded of the fact that Christ is living and able to forgive and heal sinful, broken people and places.
From Anticipation to Realization
If is for this reason that I am amazed that we begin the Church year, the very first weeks of the Christian calendar with the Christ Candle unlit! Why? Throughout the Advent season we find ourselves continually longing for that middle candle to be aflame, as the candles surrounding it, one by one illuminate the evergreen wreath (which offers the profound imagery of eternity). Four candles, three purple and one pink, act as a John the Baptist, an Isaiah, and even a psalm writing David illuminating the only real hope that we have in this life, Christ himself. Each week, with a little more light, the answer becomes progressively clear. Until, finally we light that long expected candle. Finally, we cease singing "Come thou long expected Jesus" and our voices ring out the chorus "Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king." Blessings this Advent season, and may the joy of the Lord fill you heart with anticipation, hope, and gladness.
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