Tonight’s antiphon harkens back to the theme of Jesus being the light of the world.  It reads: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.”  As I prayed over this passage I immediately thought of the Advent wreath.  The whole purpose of the Advent wreath is to show how our lives get brighter the more we allow Christ to enter into our life.  Because, as our Lord tells us, we will never be in darkness when we choose to follow Christ.  However, the Advent Wreath doesn’t only teach us only about the light; but, it also teaches us, through the burning down of the candles, that time is passing by.  Eventually, the candles will burn out and the same is true for our lives.  We were not made for this world and the light of Christ is what saves us from death.

    But this light doesn't just show up out of nowhere...we need to be vigilant and look for the light.  Our prayer and the way we live our life must be properly ordered so that we can find the light of Christ easier.  Right praise & worship is what guides us to the light.  This is one of the essential parts of any liturgical celebration: to encounter the light, who is Jesus Christ.  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI writes that liturgy, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, is all about relationship with each other and with Jesus.  If our prayer life is on point (especially during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) then the light will be shown to us and will most certainly penetrate our hearts.

    Some may think that this is just "nice language" or a "good metaphor" to describe the importance of Jesus in your life, but those people don't understand what this light is.  We practice orthodoxy (right praise and worship) so that we may be guided to the eschatological light...the light of Heaven where we will be in full communion with God.  It's important to remember that we get to this light by properly praising & worshiping almighty God.  And how do we properly praise him?  By loving him, The Lord our God, with all our heart, mind, and soul, and by loving our neighbor as ourselves.  Candles, like our lives, end; but the light of Christ is eternal and shines on us all.