Christmas: Jesus Christ is the Light of the World

"Where is it? Where is the Candle?" Where is the tall white candle of Christmas? There is no new candle in this picture! Why would we not complete the liturgy and light the final candle?

What need do we have of it?!!

In our Advent contemplation candles represent the growing light - but on Christmas we have THE Light the darkness can not overcome. Christ is the “Light of the World” which the darkness of sin cannot overcome. As Christ's Advent, His Coming draws us onward we light more candles and more darkness is dispelled. In this way we are lead to contemplate the Love Story that is God's mission to redeem His people. On Christmas there is no need for the image because we have the original, there is no need for the analogy because we have the authentic, there is no need for the likeness because we have God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth."

Let us not get too fixated on the candles. There is no need of candles because there is Light and we are witness to the Light on this wonderful day. The Light burns eternal.