November 29, 2015
First Sunday of Advent
Here we are again, standing at the threshold of another Advent. In this season of the year when darkness steps to the fore and pushes aside our daylight, we take a step into the liturgy of Advent where we illumine the darkness with the light of a candle in an ever-increasing crescendo of light and presence. It is our time of journey. A journey into the experience of the God whose essence is love and who wants nothing more than to share that essence with us in the person of Jesus. Since all good liturgy carries with it the use of earthy elements and symbols, we light a candle to announce that the God of Gods and Light from Light is opening out his heart and declaring his intention and essence to his creation. What is his intention? That we come from love and light, that we are surrounded by it and are invited to yield our inmost selves to this love who longs to give himself to us. Our first candle holds our hope, our willingness to let the light of Jesus into the deep recesses of our being and receive the mercy promised to us, and to Abraham and his descendants forever: Jesus. Lord Jesus, let your mercy be upon us as we place all our hope in you. Let all the world know the reason for your coming in the depths of their heart. Mercy and faithfulness have met in you. You sit upon a seat of mercy and not of judgment. May the light of this Advent Candle remind us of the love that brings us into being and lights our way in you, who are our way and truth and life. Blessings on our journey into light!