The Legend of the Christmas Candle

Many years ago an old cobbler and his wife lived in a little village in Austria. Although very poor, whatever they owned they shared with others. Each night they placed a lighted candle in the window of their cottage as a sign of hospitality to any traveler needing shelter.

Through the years, war and famine plagued this little village. Yet, as though some mysterious charm guarded them, the cobbler and his wife suffered far less than their neighbors.

One evening, on the night before Christmas, the villagers gathered to discuss their plight.

"There is something special about the cobbler and his wife," said one villager. "They are always spared our misfortunes. What do they do that we do not? Let us put a candle in our windows too. Perhaps that is the charm."

That night every home lit a Christmas candle in each window, and lo, before the sun rose, a messenger brought great news to the village. Peace had come! The villagers gave thanks to God for this blessing of Peace and vowed to always light candles on Christmas Eve.

This beautiful custom spread throughout the world, and each year millions of Christmas candles light up the world with a message of love and everlasting joy.

Today’s Gospel reading talks about the light: “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 light… whole advent devotional in which many of you contributed with beautiful devotions is centered on light. Why is this theme of light so important? Why do we concentrate on the light in this Advent season?

The answer is simple dear friends. We need the light, for we live in the darkness. It is the sin in our lives that causes the darkness around us. And I know that each of us is trying really hard. Striving for justice and peace, fairness and honesty. And yet, there isn’t a day when we realized that we have failed again. And so the darkness spreads.

It’s like we’re caught in a vicious circle and it’s not in our power to break its curse. But there is a power in this world that can break the chains of sin. It is the power of the ultimate light, light of Christ which cannot be overcome by the darkness. And John testified about Christ when he said: “The true light, which enlightens everyone, is coming into the world.”

The light of Christ enlightens our hearts and brings to light the sin that is deeply rooted in them. In the light of Christ there’s nothing to hide, everything is uncovered and we’re able to see our true selves. And maybe that’s why many of us try to hide before this light, for we do not want certain things in our lives come up to the surface. John himself said: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”

But the fact that Christ’s light shines directly through us shouldn’t be the reason to hide from it. For Christ didn’t come to this world to judge us but to save us. We might see our true selves in his light and not like it, but we shouldn’t hide from Christ’s light in shame, but instead we should let this light to make us clean.

For Christ doesn’t only show us our sinful nature, but he cleanses us from it as he takes our sins on himself. He doesn’t leave us standing in shame pointing out our wrong doings. Christ with his light helps us to get rid of them. With his unconditional love, he doesn’t let us stand by ourselves in the dark street corner, but with his light he guides and leads us to a better life with him. That’s why we sing in this Advent season: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Sometimes we tend to speculate too much about Christ and his light, and the role we play in this whole scenario. Well let me put it this way, our role is quite easy, it is to receive and accept this light of Christ into our lives. For John in the first Chapter of his Gospel says: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

We’re called dear friends in this Advent season to put our trust in the light of Christ. For all who do so are called children of God. And there isn’t a better thing in this world then to have the assurance that I am a beloved child of God.

God want his light to shine in our lives not only in this Advent season but for everyday of our lives. So that not only our paths can be enlightened by him but the people around us might see God’s light through us. For the faith in the Christmas light creates new light. And our God tells all of us: You are the light of the world, and this light can not be hidden.

How to be this light for others? I know that all of you know the ways you can be the light for your loved ones. Many of you testified about it in your Advent devotions, if you didn’t write one, please read them, for God’s light certainly shines through them.

We began tonight/this morning with a legend of the Christmas candle. This candle with its little twinkling light brought our attention to the real light of the world, Jesus the Christ. May the candle light always remind us of Christ our Lord who enlightens our lives and makes us the light for others.

Amen