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Walking in the light this Advent

In this 2019 photo, a mother and her son at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, Maryland light the candle on the Advent wreath. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)

For the second year in a row, I am happy to see the year come to an end and look forward with renewed hope toward the next. For nearly two very long years, we have lived with the fear and the isolation and the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It seems, to me at least, that we are living what the Psalmist wrote:

“They do not know nor do they understand;

“They walk about in darkness;

“All the foundations of the earth are shaken.” (Psalm 82:5)

We have been walking about in darkness, and I say we are indeed ready for a reboot and a reset.

Even though we are a little less than six weeks from the start of a new calendar year, just about now is the time for Catholics to start praying for happiness and health and blessings for the year ahead. That is because on Sunday, Nov. 28, we will celebrate the start not of a new calendar year, but the start of a new liturgical year.

The Church begins her new year with Advent, the period of four Sundays preceding Christmas. We use this time of anticipation to reflect on our relationship with God as we prepare for the Incarnation of Christ.

For many of us, lighting the candles of the Advent wreath marks the celebration of Advent in our homes.

The tradition of lighting candles around a wreath dates back to the folk practices of the pre-Christian Eastern Europeans, who during the dark winter months would make wreaths of evergreen and light fires. Later, Christians would adapt these traditions – as well they should have. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

The Advent wreath symbolizes an endless circle representing the endless love of God for His people. The candles represent Christ the everlasting Light of the World and evergreens represent eternal life with Jesus in Heaven.

As we light the candles, perhaps we will be prompted to light a fire under our own faithfulness and spark a renewed desire for Our Lord whose love for us is boundless. And, as we light the candles, we can see – and take hope from the fact – that it does indeed dispel the darkness that has surrounded us.

It makes sense that Advent is celebrated with lights, whether the candles of the Advent wreath, or the lights with which we decorate our homes. These lights recall that a prophecy made thousands and thousands of years ago has indeed come true. The great prophet Isaiah told us many millennia ago that “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. To them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen.” (Isaiah 9:2)

These past 20 months – marked by pandemic and the anxiety and confusion it has caused – have truly seemed like a time in which we have “walked in darkness” and “dwelt in the region of the shadow of death.”

Pope Francis has also made a reference to “a great light” dawning. Addressing Catholic musicians at the Vatican earlier this week, he reminded the faithful not to allow the light of Advent to “be dimmed by the consequences of the pandemic,” but instead remember “the beauty of Christmas shines through” this time of darkness.

So, this year I will celebrate Advent with candles and light. It seems even more appropriate than ever that I should do so during this second Advent marked by COVID.

I am reminded of the beautiful Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” There is one verse in particular that seems most appropriate to me during this time of pandemic:

“O come, O Lamb of God who was slain,
“You underwent our human pain,
“Dispel our fear of endless night
 “And death’s dark shadow put to flight.”

We are walking in darkness right now, but Advent calls us to have holy hope that a new dawn will break. We have walked in darkness for too long. We need the light.

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