Lots of people like candles. These days, you can get candles of all shapes, sizes, and scents. While in the past candles were used for light, these days candles are used for so many other reasons than to provide light. In the time before electricity, the only real means of lighting a house after the sun had set was to use candles.
Candles have also played a fairly major role in the Christian church. Many of the large cathedrals and churches in Europe were built prior to electric light, and so candles were used to light the sanctuary when people would gather for worship. You could always know when a time of worship was being observed by the light filtering through the windows, cast from the many candles throughout the building.
As the church celebrates the season of Advent, we also make use of candles. A traditional part of the season of Advent is the Advent wreath, in which four candles are placed around the outside, with a fifth candle at the middle of the wreath. Three of the outer candles are purple, and one is pink. The center candle is white. While there are many explanations as to what the four candles symbolize, as well as their colors, the matter of importance for us is that the prepare us for the time when we light the central candle.
Why is the central candle so important? In the Advent wreath, this candle is known as the Christ candle. It is lit on the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The other four candles are all in preparation for the time when we light the white central candle. Just like the season of Advent is a time of seeing God's preparations for the birth of Jesus, the four other candles prepare us for our yearly celebration of Jesus' birth, which began His journey to the cross and the open tomb.
Starting the first week, one purple candle is lit. The second week, an additional purple candle is lit. On the third week, the two purple candles are lit along with the pink candle. The fourth week, all four exterior candles are lit. And then, on that holy day of Christmas, the entire wreath is lit up as the Christ candle shines its light, symbolic of Jesus, who is the light of the world.
If you don't already mark the season of Advent with an Advent wreath, maybe it's time to start seeing how God prepares us for our yearly celebration of Jesus' birth. I encourage you to either buy an Advent wreath, or make your own.
Candles have also played a fairly major role in the Christian church. Many of the large cathedrals and churches in Europe were built prior to electric light, and so candles were used to light the sanctuary when people would gather for worship. You could always know when a time of worship was being observed by the light filtering through the windows, cast from the many candles throughout the building.
As the church celebrates the season of Advent, we also make use of candles. A traditional part of the season of Advent is the Advent wreath, in which four candles are placed around the outside, with a fifth candle at the middle of the wreath. Three of the outer candles are purple, and one is pink. The center candle is white. While there are many explanations as to what the four candles symbolize, as well as their colors, the matter of importance for us is that the prepare us for the time when we light the central candle.
Why is the central candle so important? In the Advent wreath, this candle is known as the Christ candle. It is lit on the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The other four candles are all in preparation for the time when we light the white central candle. Just like the season of Advent is a time of seeing God's preparations for the birth of Jesus, the four other candles prepare us for our yearly celebration of Jesus' birth, which began His journey to the cross and the open tomb.
Starting the first week, one purple candle is lit. The second week, an additional purple candle is lit. On the third week, the two purple candles are lit along with the pink candle. The fourth week, all four exterior candles are lit. And then, on that holy day of Christmas, the entire wreath is lit up as the Christ candle shines its light, symbolic of Jesus, who is the light of the world.
If you don't already mark the season of Advent with an Advent wreath, maybe it's time to start seeing how God prepares us for our yearly celebration of Jesus' birth. I encourage you to either buy an Advent wreath, or make your own.
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