Circle of light: An Advent reflection for 2023

When I think of Advent, I always think of candles and the magical twinkle of their flames. The church I attended as a child always designated the Sunday night before Christmas as a “Candlelight Service.” Typically, the youth of the Congregation would perform some sort of a play or skit and then the lights would slowly go out as our pastor would take center stage, illuminated by the light of a single candle.

The atmosphere in the room would immediately change. It was almost palpable; you could just feel it. Only moments before, the room echoed the sounds of chuckling fathers and sniffling mothers, but it quickly became a room filled with dark mystery and expectation.

In soft gentle tones, our pastor would begin to speak. He would read the story of the Nativity from the Gospel of Luke and share a brief reflection. Gradually, ushers would come down the aisle passing out candles to each individual. Our pastor would conclude his reflection and invite the Congregation to come forward out of their pews and form a giant circle around the sanctuary.

A Circle of Light

He would then take his candle and light the candle of the person next to him. They in turn would do the same. Each of us used our candle to light the candle of our neighbor until everyone held a lit candle. It became a circle of light!

The mystery was still there hiding in shadows and dark corners, but the room reflected a sparkling luminescence. As we stood there in wonder, someone would begin to sing Silent Night and the Congregation would all join in. The tension of expectation and darkness would gradually transform into a feeling of hope and peace. You could see it on the people’s faces, dancing in their eyes.

We would sing other caros, but we always ended by singing a rousing chorus or two of This Little Light of Mine. There’s just something about a candle that transform a space.

‘Separate light from the darkness’

In the Bible, the story of Creation tells us that God spoke and there was light. Out of the dark swirling mass of chaos, the voice of God rings out and suddenly, the light appears and darkness is contained. The story goes on to say that God created lights and placed them in the sky to “rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:18 NRSV).

I wonder if Mary contemplated these things while gazing up at the stars, as she and Joseph slowly made their way to Bethlehem? Perhaps the road that was illuminated by the soft milky light of the moon reminded her that God is “wrapped in light as with a garment?” (Psalm 104:2). I wonder if these are things that she and Joseph taught Jesus and that later influenced his ministry?

I can only imagine how proud she must have been of him as he stood on the hillside, preaching to thousands, proclaiming that each one of them was a light in this world and should let their light shine for others to see. (Matthew 5:14).

‘Dancing Like Flames’

I can only imagine the grin on her face the day the Holy Spirit permeates an upper room filled with people and moves among them, dancing like flames in their eyes. As each of them begins to share their light with their neighbor, we transform the world.

A world of darkness becomes a circle of light. Place of violence transfigure into places of hope and peace. The hungry are fed. The weak are made strong. The lowly are lifted. It’s inspiriting and miraculous to know that each one of us carries a holy flame that’s just waiting to be shared with others.

In the mid-90s, Chris Rice wrote a song called “Go Light Your World.” We used to sing in church. It goes like this:

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Cause We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let’s raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world