December 17, 2022–4th Sunday of Advent Candle Lighting
“The Gift comes…” So we hear in a hymn from St. Ephraim. The Gift, still wrapped in the precious humanity of his mother, will soon be brought forth from her warm and nurturing womb to be among the children of the earth.
To be swaddled, and cuddled, and cooed. To give great delight to Mary and Joseph at his first smile, as he lies contentedly on Mary’s breast or gazes trustfully into their eyes.
The Gift. God With Us. Emmanuel. Mercy in our midst.
O Fourth Advent Candle, as your flame quivers with sheer joy at the promise of the coming of the Son of God as a human being like us, let your light shine upon our way as we journey to the stable. Shine into the depths of our hearts that we may recognize The Gift when he comes. Expand our hearts that this Torrent of Mercy may come rushing into every crevice of our being.
Keep shining, O Candle, until we glow with his presence for one another, for the world. And then, dear friend, you may let your flame merge into his ocean of light and goodness where all creation finds its purpose and rest and where, in him, we are all one.