From Flickering Faith . . .

. . . To Burning Light

        The central purpose of the Advent season is to point the People of God to the coming of Christ as expressed in the prologue to the Gospel of John:  “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).  Drawing on the theological idea of the Bible as God’s Written Word, John understands the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as God’s Living Word.  The Church expands this descriptive imagery further by interpreting the Sacraments (Baptism and The Lord’s Supper) as God’s Embodied Word in water, bread and the cup and explained in the words of the poet: “God became man in Palestine . . . and lives today in bread and wine.”  Such broad understanding of the Word gives new meaning to the confession of the psalmist:  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). 

         Yet to so many people today, the rich theological insight surrounding the “light” of truth from God’s Word (Written, Living and Embodied) is often far from clear. According to Leslie Weatherhead more than a half century ago, “The lamp flickers . . . and seems to give an uncertain light.”

          The following Advent devotions written by members of our church family for daily use are intended to nourish our sometimes “flickering” faith and feed us with solid food for a burning “light” of deeper discipleship.  Joined to weekly participation in Worship on the four Sundays prior to Christmas using the Advent Liturgy for the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, it is my prayer We Light This Candle will move us all from “flickering” faith to a burning “light” and a closer experience of the presence of God “in Christ” – “the word made flesh and dwelling among us . . . full of grace and truth.”

God’s Grace and Peace to you this Advent Season,