This is Pastor Tim’s article which appeared in the Evening Leader on Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023
Since we are now in the season of Advent, I want to use these articles during this season to discuss the significance of Advent Candles. Many of you will likely be lighting special candles in your church to mark the different weeks of the Advent journey. The first candle represents the candle of hope.
If there is anything that the world needs to be reminded of in these modern times, it is hope. Despair appears to be reaching almost epidemic proportions these days, which is somewhat perplexing because, in our modern world, there are more reasons to be hopeful than ever before. It seems as though we are inclined to choose despair despite the numerous modern conveniences at our disposal. Consider the advancements in medicine that have transformed many fatal illnesses into simple inconveniences.
I vividly recall a few years ago when I visited a couple in the hospital. The wife was about to undergo appendicitis surgery. Despite the seriousness of the situation, minutes before the wife was rushed into the operating room, the husband and I sat in the lobby, sharing laughter and making jokes. Shortly after, the doctor informed us that the surgery was successful, and the husband and I went out for supper. Not too long ago, we would have been planning a funeral in such a situation because less than a generation ago, it would have been considered a death sentence. Remarkably, both members of the couple were back in church the following Sunday.
In 1933, we elected a president who had polio and was partially paralyzed. Today, thanks to the work of scientists and the support of Rotary International, I can count the number of verified polio cases on planet earth on my left hand.
These examples underscore how fortunate we are to live in these modern times. However, even with these advancements, our country maintains a running statistic of what we refer to as “deaths of despair” – individuals who succumb to self-inflicted wounds or drug overdoses. This raises the question: why is this happening? The answer may lie in our tendency to focus on the negative and overlook moments of hope. While there are certainly numerous challenges in the world, we need to be intentional about recognizing and embracing hope. Failure to do so allows despair to overwhelm us like a tidal wave.
This is why the first week of the Advent journey begins with a not-so-subtle reminder of hope. The birth of Christ represents the most hopeful moment our world has ever known. The fact that God sent His only begotten Son to our world signifies not only the existence of a benevolent and loving God but also God’s deep concern for us, demonstrated by sending His Son so that we may know Him. It reinforces the idea that God is genuinely interested in us, and Jesus is real.
However, this profound truth only holds significance if we remember it. Even as the pastor writing this article, I sometimes struggle to keep this truth at the forefront of my mind, as I, too, have a tendency to veer towards negativity. This underscores the importance of the first candle in the Advent wreath – the candle of Hope. Without Hope, none of the other candles, including Candle #5, representing the Christ Candle, holds the same significance.
It is no coincidence that the first week of Advent follows the celebration of Thanksgiving. To have hope, we must first recognize its source – the presence of Jesus.
I acknowledge that this season can be hectic and busy, and there are challenges, especially for those who have lost loved ones. However, the presence of grief and the reality of loss do not negate hope. In fact, that pain can intensify hope, as it is through Jesus that we understand our departed loved ones are not truly gone; they are now in the presence of God. This very hope inspires us to light the first candle in the Advent wreath.