Eucharistic Meditations - Candles (or lamps)

The burning candles poignantly remind us of what a true sacrifice is - consuming oneself to the limits for the benefit of others. The original requirement of bees' wax tells of the hours of diligent toil and painstaking labour that produce the wax which is surrendered to God. Fr. Eymard often said: "God gives himself to me totally in the Eucharist; I too wish to give myself totally to God through the Eucharist." This is what the lighted candle encourages us to do.

Going further back, Lord, we recall that light was the first of your creative endeavours: 'let there be light…' Light enables us to recognize the marvels of your creation, inviting us to praise you night and day. The playful flame of the lamp during the Eucharist enlightens us about the deepest truths concerning the Father's love, his choice of us as his beloved children and, of ourselves as born anew of water and the Spirit: "I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek me in chaos.'"

Light also is at the cutting-edge of life: "And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, yet people loved darkness because their deeds were evil…" Lord, the choice is always ours: "Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going… I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness."

The flickering lamp further brings hope to a sinful people: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on them light has shone... I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them… Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."

The conditions though are clear enough, Lord: 'if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday sun.'