My Dear Friends,

I am sure you realize as well as I do that at this time of the year the days are becoming shorter whereas the nights are getting longer; there is less light and more darkness. We will soon be experiencing the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, that time of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator and seems to pause before returning to its course. So must we pause during this season of Advent to prepare for Christmas, the Feast of Light, the Light coming into the darkness. "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." (Jn 1:5) What the Church would like for you to do this Advent is to think of Christ and Christmas and getting ready for His coming. "Moreover we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Pt 1:19) Before curing the man born blind, Jesus said, "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (Jn 9:5) One thing is very clear, that the season of Advent should be a time of light, and even if the days are getting darker and darker, our lives should be getting brighter and brighter. We must know where to find the light. If we find Jesus we find the light. 

It is a wise person who prepares for any great event or celebration in his/her life; and the Church, considering that Christmas is a major celebration in its life, has wisely given us the season of Advent to properly prepare for that great feast. The word "advent" means "a coming"; the coming of Jesus Christ. To enjoy a beautiful Christmas one must have experienced a beautiful Advent; a real time of preparation; a time of greater awareness of what Christmas is all about, the birthday of Christ. It is a time of living more deeply the Christmas life; a time of schooling for living a lifetime of Christianity. The happiness and spirit of Christmas should then be ours throughout the year. 

Over the years the Lord has inspired people with all kinds of beautiful ideas and customs which enrich the whole advent season. One such custom is a German custom known as Christ Kindle. It began with the idea that one chooses a person they would consider as the Christ Child and do for that person everything possible in the true spirit of Christmas which is love. In response to Jesus' words, "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Mt 6:44) you might place a particular person in your heart, preferably an enemy, someone who has really hurt you. Love that person in a special way by offering prayers and sacrifices for that person. This Advent practice taken seriously is a challenge which could change your life. 

Praying the Bible is another good Advent practice. As you read appropriate passages, meditate on the words and ask the Lord to teach and inspire you as you look for Him and search for new meaning in your life. 

There are many decorations used in homes during Advent which are symbolic and remind us of Christmas. Among these are the crib, the tree, advent wreaths and candles. The advent wreath is interesting and meaningful, probably having its origin from pagan feasts. During the solstice the pagans whose god was the sunshine would remove a wheel from a cart believing that the sacrifice of not using it would appease their god who would favor them with longer days. For pagans, then, the shortest day became a day of celebration to their "Sunshine god". The Church now uses the advent wreath to represent Jesus Christ as Light of the world. "Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'." (Jn 8:12) Jesus brings light to all. 

The Advent wreath is made in a circle, symbolizing immortality. Jesus, Son of God is eternal, having no beginning and no end. The four candles of the wreath, three purple and one pink, represent the recorded periods of salvation history; the time when people were waiting for the Messiah; a period of about 4,000 years. When the first candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent our thoughts center upon creation; that as descendants of Adam and Eve we are made in the image of God. We ponder over the devil's coming upon the earth bungling God's plan. With the lighting of the second candle on the second Sunday of Advent we meditate on the time of Noah. The third period takes us through Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses; the exile in Egypt; up to the time of David. The lighting of the last candle represents history from David to the birth of Jesus Christ. When the pink candle is lit we feel joyful with the realization that Christmas is very near. The practice of having an advent wreath is most meaningful because at this time of the year we celebrate Jesus as the Light of the world.

No one knows exactly the day Jesus was born, but putting the feast at the time when the days are darkest helps us to understand Jesus as the Light of the world. This revelation comes to us from Jesus Himself who said: "I am the light of the world." (Jn 8:12) The Light was Jesus. The Light is Jesus. The Light will be Jesus. The real Light which gives light to every man is coming into the world. If we have Jesus we gave light. Without Jesus there is darkness. "A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but 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 to be through him but the world did not accept him." (Jn 1: 6-11) The world was in darkness at Jesus' coming but the darkness of the world was unable to snuff out the light of Jesus Christ. 

No matter how dark the world gets in our day, the light of Jesus will always be brighter. It will be reflecting in us because He has said, "You are the light of the world." (Mt 5:14) As the darkness increases around us, we must be brighter because the Lord is counting on us. Peter tells us "But you are 'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light'." (1 Pt 2:9) Jesus brought light into the world dispelling the darkness. The darkness in the lives of people disappeared; the darkness of their lack of hope; of their sinfulness; of their sickness and problems. The darkness just disappeared; and Jesus calls us to be filled with light and bring it to others. Each of us either brings light or darkness into the world; we either lift people up or we pull them down. Jesus said that He was the light of the world. (Jn 8:12)

Paul tells us "For God who said 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor 4:6) The message Jesus gives us is "I'm going now, you guys, you take over; you become the light." We, then, must bring the light of Christ to others. Everybody who looks at us should see in us reflections of Jesus. If we know Jesus Christ, and we love Him we reflect Him and that reflection cannot be hidden but will bring the light of Christ to all we meet. God wants us to be a light and to be able to bubble for other people and for Him. "Just so, your light must shine before others; that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." (Mt 14:16)

"A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house." (Mt 5:14-15) We can be reflections of this light of Christ by sharing with others; befriending the lonely, those at home or in nursing homes; giving a friendly smile to strangers we meet; extending kindness in words and deeds to those with whom we live; initiation a telephone call or writing a letter to a relative or friend living away. Just as sunshine replaces cloudiness so does a simple smile bring light. People who may have difficulty or problems or who may be discouraged may just start bubbling and feeling that the sun has just come out again as we bring the light of Christ to them. We have to be that way for one another. That's what Jesus wants us to do. "No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather he places it on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light." (Lk 8:16)

"Jesus said to them, 'The light will be among you only a little while. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light'." (Jn 12: 35-36) Reference to light is not limited to the New Testament. God's revelation of Himself as Light may be found in Old Testament passages as well. In the very beginning of Scripture we read: "In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. 

Then God said, 'Let there be light, and there was light .' God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'day' and the darkness he called 'night'." (Gn 1:1-5) "Then God said, 'Let there be light in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night. Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years, and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth.' And so it happened: God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night; and he made the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw how good it was." (Gn 1:14-18) 

In Exodus we read that Moses is drawn to a burning bush which is not consumed by the flames. "Meanwhile Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the Lord appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed." (Ex 3:1-2) 

We also read in Exodus that God guided the people with a light that came from the pillar of fire giving them assurance that the Lord was with them. "Setting out from Succoth, they camped at Etham near the edge of the desert. The Lord preceded them, in the daytime by means of a column of cloud to show them the way, and at night by means of a column of fire to give them the light. Thus they could travel both day and night. Neither the column of cloud by day nor the column of fire by night ever left its place in front of the people." (Ex 13:20-22) 

Let us examine how the Church uses light, especially the light from candles, in the conferring of Sacraments and in its liturgies. At the Baptism of infants, for example, a lighted candle is given to both parents who represent the child. The priest or deacon says, in the name of the Church, "Keep this light shining brightly until the Lord comes." An adult who receives Baptism holds the candle for himself/herself. The baptismal candle is a symbol of the light that must shine in our hearts and on our faces for a lifetime. Are we still the same children of God that we were on the day of our Baptism? If not, we must ask God to bring that light back to us as we prepare for the feast of the birthday of His Son. 

In marriage ceremonies there are often two candles at the beginning of the ceremony, but when the couple consent to love and to live for one another the two candles are melted into one. As the two candles symbolically become one, so the Sacrament of Matrimony united them as one. 

At a funeral we pray that "perpetual light may shine" on the deceased. That light will shine after death only if the light of Jesus has shone in hearts, minds, memories, lives, and actions of a deceased during their life on earth. Is Jesus in your life; on your lips; in your speech? If not, then you can bring Him in during this Advent. He wants to find room in your heart. Let Him in! 

Let us be guided by two passages in Scripture. The first is the parable of the ten virgins. The five wise virgins brought flasks of oil with their lamps while the five foolish virgins brought no oil with them. The bridegroom came when they had gone out to buy oil. When they returned they were not allowed to enter the wedding feast. (Mt 25:1-13) The second is a simile of light. "The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is sound, then your whole body is filled with light, but when it is bad then your body is in darkness. Take care then, that the light in you not become darkness. If your whole body is full of light, and no part of it is in darkness, then it will be as full of light as a lamp illuminating you with its brightness." (Lk 11:34-36) 

We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as on a lamp shining in a dark place. As we go on in life we find a lot of darkness, but fixing our eyes on Jesus helps us to avoid problems of darkness. We must be like the Magi who experienced the darkness of King Herod. "After their audience with the king they set out, and behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was." (Mt 2:9) The Magi saw the star, the light, and they followed. So must we follow the Light of Christ in spite of the darkness which surrounds us. 

Chapter 21 of the Book of Revelations describes the New Jerusalem. Passages in this chapter referring to "light" are worthy of study during this Advent season. "I saw no temple in the city, for the temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb." (Rv 21:24) "The nations will walk by its light and to it the kings of the earth will bring their treasure." (Rv 21:24) "Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever." (Rv 22:5) Reflect on heaven! We will see Jesus face to face; be immersed in His beauty, so brightly transfigured, lighting up the heavens. The Light, God, is in heaven! 

Do you think that God wants you to be in darkness until death? No! He wants us to walk in the light as children of Light. Following Jesus, the Light, will bring light to our lives and will gain heaven for us. Do you know what heaven is? Heaven is where God is and that's what enlightens our path. Do you know what hell is? Hell is where God ain't and that's what burns Satan up. Which place will you choose? 

At Christmas the world seems to glow with light: on Christmas trees, various decorations in department stores, on street posts, downtown, and in homes. All these lights should remind us that Jesus is the light of the world; that the Lord has called us out of darkness into His own wonderful light. "I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness." (Jn 12:46) Only the darkness of sin can extinguish the Light of Christ. 

Heavenly Father, we ask you to help us to understand that Jesus is the Light of the world and outside of Jesus there is no light; there is only darkness. Help us to live Advent as a season of prayer, a season of preparation to welcome the Light at Christmas. We thank you, heavenly Father, for Jesus, that beautiful Jesus, who came to enlighten the world so that those who follow Him will not have to walk in the darkness. Help us to find and follow Jesus.