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Prayers for Prodigal Catholics
A Season of Light Reprinted from the St Patrick's Messenger. Copyright © 2003 MaryAnn Gardner. All rights reserved. Reprints require permission from the copyright holder. What do the strings of colored lights in your home reflect this Advent season? Are you preparing for the coming of the Savior or stressing out over the coming Christmas festivities? Those lights that shine through the darkness of our cold winter nights during Advent are also the colors of Scripture which tell the story of God and His people and the ultimate Christmas gift. If you find your family stressed from too much holiday preparation, stop for minute. Light your Christmas tree. Ponder, for a brief moment, the meaning of the colors of Christmas as proclaimed in Scripture. Begin in darkness. BLACK means “lack of colors, without light”. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth…and darkness was upon the face of the deep…And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5 Then, turn on your Christmas lights in your home or just imagine them in your mind’s eye. First, find the BLUE lights. Blue stands for “truth from heaven”. Jesus said to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by me. John 14:6 BROWN (WOOD) symbolizes “Humanity” or “Holy Offspring”. But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. Isaiah 11:1 PURPLE signifies “Royalty”. We are the King’s children. For you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, that you should show the praises of Him who called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2: 9 There are several shades of RED found in Scripture. BRIGHT RED light stands for “Deliverance”. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though through dry land; and the Egyptians were drowned. Hebrews 11:29 BLOOD RED lights symbolize “Sacrifice”. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. John 19:34 The PINK light indicates “Change”. I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take their stony heart and will give them a heart of flesh: Ezek 11:19 SCARLET means “Salvation”. "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD . "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Is. 1:18 ORANGE RED means “Purify”. But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? He is like a refiner's fire. Malachi 3:2 ROSE means “God With Us”. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 GREEN stands for “Eternal Life”. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 SILVER means “Redemption”. And there were shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. The angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-13 YELLOW indicates “Faithfulness”. About that time wise men came from the east, asking, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star, and have come to worship him." Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where Jesus lay. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! Matthew2: 1-2,9-10 GOLD symbolizes “Divine”. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 All together the colors make a RAINBOW of light which signifies “Hope”. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as the sign of my permanent promise to you and to all the earth. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth. Gen. 9:13, 16 When the Christmas celebration ends, and the colored lights are stored for the next year, light remains in both our homes and in our hearts. The WHITE light that remains means “Christ-light,” or “All the Colors of Light”. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined. Isaiah 9:2 Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
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