Christian Reflection and Prayer

The Advent wreath. This simple
arrangement consists of four
candles set equidistant in a circle
of evergreens, with a larger fifth
candle placed in the middle. On
the first Sunday of Advent, one
candle is lit, on the second Sunday,
two candles, and so on. Finally,
on Christmas Eve, we light the
Christ candle in the middle.
Usually, three of the outer candles
are purple, the liturgical color of
Advent that signifies both penitence
and royalty, but the candle for the
third Sunday is rose-colored, denoting
the theme of joy. The Christ candle is
white. The circle suggests eternity, the
greens symbolize life, and the cross
of lighted candles points to Christ.

In ancient northern cultures, the
lighting of bonfires and yule logs
was meant to ward off the midwinter
darkness and its sinister denizens.
So it is easy to see how Christians
combined the greenery of life and
the candles of light into the Advent
wreath. By lighting a new candle
each week, by accumulating the
brightness, we signify our hope in
the coming light of Christ, even as
daylight diminishes and darkness
rises with the approach of winter
solstice. Lighting the Advent wreath
in our homes and churches enacts
our faith in John's testimony: "The
light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness did not overcome it"
(Jn 1:5).

The minor feast day of St. Lucy, or
Lucia, on December 13 provides
another opportunity to celebrate the
coming light of Christ during Advent.
Lucia, whose name derives from lux
(Latin for "light"), was martyred in
Italy in 304. Devoted to Christ, she
gave all of her dowry to the poor,
infuriating the man she was to marry
by arrangement. He denounced her
to the governor, who had her killed
by the sword after attempts to burn
her failed. Lucy is especially honored
in Scandinavia as the Queen of Light.
The custom is for a daughter in the
home to wear a crown of candles
and go from room to room  awakening
the family from their deep midwinter
sleep and bringing them Lucia buns
baked with saffron.

Bobby Gross is director of graduate and
faculty ministries for InterVarsity Christian
Fellowship. Bobby also serves on the national
board of Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)
and lives in Atlanta, GA.