Advent's candle

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the Christian observance of Advent this year, the season that leads to the commemoration of the birth of Christ. During Advent, many churches share the tradition of lighting candles of an Advent wreath: one for each Sunday of the season, and often a Christ Candle for Christmas Eve. The Advent wreath tradition is very old, linking the spiritual symbols of the evergreen (life eternal) and flame (the Light of the world).

In the morning worship service where I was yesterday, the first purple Advent candle was lit by a young girl, perhaps a first-grader. She walked down the center aisle alone, dressed in a little acolyte robe, carrying the candle lighter. The worship leader was sharing a brief passage of Scripture and leading a congregational response, but all eyes were on the youngster as she painstakingly touched the flame to the wick of the intended candle. Nothing happened. But she was patient, kept holding the flame to the wick. She did not get rattled. Finally, she stepped back from the table, and I thought 'Uh oh, it won't catch. How embarrassing for the child.' But then, improbably, the wick flamed up! She had seen what the rest of us could not yet see: the flame was there, but it was small. When she turned to walk back down the aisle, the radiance on her face was brighter than any candle! She was so pleased and proud. And so were all of us.

The Gospel of John tells us that when Christ came, the Light shone in the darkness and the darkness could not overwhelm it. Not everyone could see it. But the Light of the world had come.