Verbum Domini

Burn Brightly With Love

Posted

Last Sunday you probably saw the Advent wreath in your church. The Advent wreath is a wonderful tradition that, according to some accounts, began in the Lutheran Church during the 16th century. Each parish displays the wreath in its own way. Some parishes have very large wreaths that hang somewhere above the sanctuary; some have more simple wreaths that are placed in front of the altar or pulpit. Even many families display advent wreaths in their homes.

Wherever it is in your parish or home, the Advent wreath is meant to be a visible reminder that Christmas is getting closer. Each week, as we light another candle, the wreath becomes brighter symbolizing that the celebration of the birth of Christ, the Light of the World, is drawing near. The same should be true of our lives: as we journey through the days of Advent, our lives should be more and more filled with the light and love of Christ.

In this Sunday’s second reading St. Paul writes, “And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more…” (Philippians 1:9). God is love, and the more our lives are filled with God the more our lives are filled with love. During Advent, the Church invites us to prayerfully prepare not only for the celebration of Christ’s birth but also for his Second Coming. This preparation calls for an examination of our lives. We must take an honest look at whether our lives are filled with God or filled with self. The more our lives are filled with God, the more we will be like the Advent wreath, becoming brighter and brighter as we walk our earthly pilgrimage. The more our lives are filled with self, however, the more we will be like the dark and cold of winter.

St. Paul’s prayer in the second reading is embodied in the life of St. John the Baptist who we see in this Sunday’s gospel. John the Baptist’s mission was to point people to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. John the Baptist’s life was filled with love for God, and when people went to John he always pointed them to the Lord. His motto was, “He [Jesus] must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). John’s life was the Advent wreath of his time, burning brighter and brighter with God’s light, pointing people to follow Jesus, the true Light of the World.

As we continue our Advent journey, St. Paul’s words should become a lived experience for us. Each day, through prayer and works of charity, our love should increase ever more and more, until we become like the fully illumined Advent wreath, burning brightly with love for God and all people.

Father Michael Najim is Spiritual Director of Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Providence, as well as Catholic Chaplain at LaSalle Academy, Providence.