In Thailand we have Christmas Lights everywhere. It’s probably the same in your country. But - is there something like the Christmas light in us? Is there something beyond the external lights that could prepare our hearts for the season?

The four weeks of Advent were given to us to prepare our hearts. The candles on the Advent Wreath invite us to reflect on Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. And with each Sunday there comes more and more light around the wreath. I recently read about the tradition to place a fifth candle in the middle of the Advent wreath on Christmas Eve, a white one, called the ‘Christ Candle’. I keep that white candle in my mind during this Advent which goes along with another Advent lesson that I learned four weeks ago.

I attended a beautiful Opening Ceremony for a Christmas Tree Charity run by one of Bangkok’s major shopping malls. Ten Embassies were invited to decorate Christmas Trees and the Embassies each chose a project in Thailand which they would like to support in case they won the competition for the most beautiful decoration. People kept talking on and on about the decorations, the colours, the food and cookies, the gifts, and so on. Yet, there was not a single word about Christ. Only one country prepared a small stable with the Holy Family. It was nearly unseen and nearly not heard - when the women said: ’actually Jesus is the reason’.
Whenever I share this awesome story about Jesus and how he comes into our world to those who had never heard about Him – I am so touched and even more touched when I simply hear something like: ‘And that’s your God?’

Beyond all the Christmas Lights and glimmer, let’s keep our hearts connected with the reason for the season! Let’s proclaim: Jesus is the reason for the season!