Thought for Today
Genesis 1:16 God made the two great lights-- the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night-- and the stars.
Psalm 18:28 It is you who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
Luke 17:24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.
James 1:17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
During Advent we have as a part of our worship the lighting of the candles on our Advent Wreath. Interestingly, the word Advent does not appear in the Bible. The word wreath only appears once, “1 Corinthians 9:25 Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.” Our Advent Wreath is good, but it is not an imperishable one.
The history of Christians lighting Advent Wreaths is probably a long one. I’ve never read up on the history; but, I do know the importance of light. One of my favorite scriptures is, “John 1:3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.” I believe that it is the light Jesus brought into a dark world we commemorate in our Advent Wreath lighting each Sunday during Advent.
Yesterday, however, I was once again reminded that although most Christians seem to assign the same meaning to the 4 candles in our Advent Wreath, some light the candles in a different order. In our congregation, we light candles sequentially for Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. On Christmas Eve, we light a center, white candle we call the Christ Candle. That sequence order is the same for both of the denominations I serve.
I read an email yesterday from one denominational official who referenced the lighting of candles of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. The same meanings but in a different order. Is there significance in the fact that both begin with Hope and both light the candle of Joy third? Only Love and Peace are different. Does the order in which we light the candles make any difference? Or, is the order merely a convention?
I think it important and significant that we begin with lighting the candle of Hope. Jesus brought hope to a weary world, a world where most people had no hope. John recognized that in the verse above. Jesus did bring the light of hope into a world where most toiled in the darkness of sin and despair with no hope for change or improvement
We often think of peace in terms of the cessation or absence of war. That is one, very limited understanding of peace. Regrettably, that is also a very rare peace. Certainly, the peace for which we pray during Advent includes freedom from armed conflict. But the peace of Advent goes far beyond that. One of my favorite phrases in the Bible, often repeated and one of the first phrases I learned in Greek, is “Do not be afraid,” μὴ φοβου. The candles of hope and peace point us toward the realization that Advent reminds us that the Incarnation, the birth of the Christ, frees us from fear.
When I was a young child, much of my joy this time of year was associated with all the packages underneath the Christmas tree. My hope was based on my anticipation and expectation of possibly getting the latest ‘must have’ present. My parents’ only hope for peace was to be able to get those latest ‘must have’ presents for me and my siblings. I still love to see presents under the tree. But, as an adult, my joy this time of year is more about my realization of what the Incarnation means for me and for Creation. My joy is based on that hope and that peace, that freedom from fear.
And, that fourth candle, the candle of Love, I now realize represents God’s love for all of God’s Creation. The love of John 3:16-17, the love of God’s covenant faithfulness all come to fruition in the gift of God’s Son. Sunday, when we light that candle, I will be reminded of the hope of the world in the birth of that tiny, helpless babe in the manger.
Stay safe, have hope, know peace, experience joy, bask in God’s love, trust God,
Pastor Ray