God is Light - Uncreated Light. Jesus is the Light of the World, the one who, as St. John tells us in the Prologue to his Gospel, is the real light which gives light to every human being. He is the Light who shines on in darkness, and the darkness did not and cannot extinguish the Light which is Christ.
But - Jesus also tells us, each one of us, - we are also the Light of the World - and, if Jesus is OUR Candle-Lighter, our light cannot be extinguished ever either. Even if we are misunderstood, underappreciated, persecuted, abused, forgotten, or lighting up only a tiny spot in this world, our light can never be extinguished because we bear the Light of Christ. Our light travels farther and more powerfully than our eyes can see or our minds can comprehend - because our light IS the Light of Christ.
Even when we die, our unique reflection of the light of Christ will continue to impact the world, through the lives of those whom we have affected by our presence. Because we will have new resurrected life in Christ, our light will live on. We have been permanently lit from the Easter Candle, the Paschal Candle, which is Christ.
There are people out there in the world who create a huge splash, who draw all the attention to themselves, who seductively glitter and glow, who eloquently preach and live a lifestyle which contradicts the Gospel. They remind me of flameless candles, powered by batteries. They flicker in a way that mimics traditional candles, but they don't give off any heat or smoke, because they were not lit by Christ, the Living Light of the World. Candles lit by God the Candle-lighter give off such heat, such fiery zeal, such warmth of love, passion, and compassion, that they are unmistakably the Real Deal.
The candles that we are remind us of God's infinite diversity. Each of us was created as a sign of God's Love. Whether big or small, long-burning or short-lived, each of us is just the right candle type to make the place where God has set us down and lit us comfortable and welcoming for others.
Some of us are short, round candle pots, candles made in a pot, jar, or glass, scented with wonderful scents like pine, lavender, or pumpkin, eminently practical and comfortably happy to minister anywhere. No place is too upper class or lowly for a candle pot to enter. From the cultured soiree to the poverty-stricken hovel, she's willing to glow there with life and love, and encourage others with her wonderful grace-filled fragrance, a fragrance that removes the odors of sin, poverty, sickness, and despair.
Others of us are pillar candles, long-burning, not needing "holders" - people to hold them up - because they're self-starters. Pillars are extremely versatile multi-taskers - they can have two or three wicks burning at once, enthusiastic about many ministries.
Perhaps you're a humble tea light candle, casting a small, gentle glow that makes others smile. Or a tall, romantic taper, so in love with your spouse. Or a candle made of beeswax, whose home is on an altar in a heavy candle holder, rarely moved from that one spot, because your main ministry is sacred prayer there for others. Perhaps you're a small votive candle, placed in a small holder that can be moved at a moment's notice, first illuminating one place, than another, your whole life a journey of service.
God mixes and matches different kinds of candles to get the best results in each of His beloved communities throughout the world. Some of us are plain, some scented, some unadorned, some molded and carved into fancy shapes. Each of us is as important as the next. Together we provide enough light to fill the world with radiant joy. But we can only be irradiated with that spiritual joy ourselves if we choose to really see each other through God's eyes, without competitiveness, superiority, or jealousy. We can only see one another's Christ-Candlelight if we watch and pray.
Recently I watched a seminarian light the two candles on either side of a small altar. He held his candle lighter in place for a few seconds over the first candle until he was satisfied, and then moved on to the second candle. I was still watching the first candle because, from my vantage point, nothing had happened. I could not see a flame. Then, suddenly, I saw a little light; slowly it grew into a robust, healthy flame.
God is indeed the Candle-Lighter, but, watching from our own vantage point, from our own point of view, we do not see when His Flame first illuminates another soul. We can only see that others are transformed into Christ Candles when their flame of faith, hope, and love has become large enough and grounded enough to give a steady, luminous light.
We have to be patient with others, as God is patient. We have to trust God, trust that He is the faithful Candle-Lighter applying the heat and light of His Holy Spirit judiciously to every wick, even those that appear to be darkened, dried out, cold, and dead. He knows. He knows how long it will take, and He will take exactly that long with each of us. If we truly love our community, we will rejoice when we see that yet another member has been lit by Christ, has burst into Light, has been transformed into a Candle that illuminates the darkness for others.
St. Francis repeated the message of John's Gospel when he said "All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle." Each of us is only one, but, wherever God has placed us, the darkness of evil, hatred, jealousy, and greed cannot overcome the light we radiate which illuminates the Truth for all to see. All of us were conceived in the Mind of God for His purposes. Because God is our Candle-Lighter, it is God's Light that we share with the world. It is His Light we enter into when we enter eternity.
Pray the words to God which St. Elizabeth of the Holy Trinity prayed:
"Clothe me with Yourself, possess me wholly....that my life may be but a radiance of Your Life."