Advent Reflection: the light has come

One of the most meaningful traditions of Christmas is the lighting of the Advent candle. I well remember Christmas Eves walking home, along the road leading to our house. And there, in the door of each home, or nestled inside on the windowsill, a short, stout candle burning solidly and brightly through the night. A warm and welcoming brightness.

Those candles from my memory were lit to symbolise the impending entrance of the True Light of the World into his sin-darkened creation. Each candle speaking eloquently of the hope, present in each heart, not to be overcome by the shadows, reminding each family circle that we were made not for death but for life.

And so, in our home, and in the homes of our neighbours, those tiny lights became a sign of transcendence, pointing to a life outside of ourselves. In our homes darkness couldn’t live in the circle of that candlelight , and was banished from the centre of the room, no longer holding sway. Just as darkness can’t survive in the light of Christ and in the fire of divine love.

Light, presence, transcendence, fire. The gifts of the Christmas Child.