Shedding Some Light On Advent

Shedding SomeLIGHTOn Advent

Advent is a time to recall the “Light of the world” coming into a world that is overwhelmed by darkness. That’s why the most common custom among many Christians is to light another candle on each Sunday in December in anticipation of the birth of the One who came to drive out the darkness (Jn. 1:4-5).

The “true Light that gives light to every man” (Jn. 1:9) is the real Gift of Christmas: God becoming one of us to redeem what is lost in the darkness of sin. The Advent message is that when the world is in blinding darkness, Jesus comes with these words: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life” (Jn. 8:12).

When we least expect it, and when there is no evidence for it, God’s Light enters in ways the world could never foresee. Just ask John the Baptist’s parents or Jesus’ parents or Simeon and Anna, the prophets who knew that in Christ redemption had come into the world (Lk. 1:39-2:37).

We can’t deny that nations remain in agony, and that men are choking on their fears. But we also can’t deny that Christ is the Light of the world. Symbolically, Advent invites us to light candles in hopeful anticipation of the Savior’s birth in the hearts of those in darkness. To those seeking to trip Him up when He healed the one born blind He said, “I am the Light of the world” (Jn. 9:5). And to us He says, “You are the light of the world ... let your light shine” (Mt. 5:14-16). Let’s share His light with those in darkness.

John the Baptist called people to the Light by quoting the prophet Isaiah: “Prepare the way for the LORD” (Isa. 40:3; Mk. 1:3; Jn. 1:6-9). Let’s listen to John’s call and make Advent a time when we ask ourselves this question: Does the Light in our lives show that we are celebrating the birth of the One who said, “I have come into the world as a Light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness” (Jn. 12:46)?

By Larry Ondrejack