The Light of Christ: The Paschal Candle

Paschal Candles and the Light of Christ

“After the Baptism, a candle (lit from the Paschal Candle) may be given to each of the newly baptized or to a godparent.” —Book of Common Prayer.

After a child is baptized, a smaller candle is lit from the large white Paschal Candle. I am often privileged to hand it to the parent or godparent and say, “The light of Christ.” Indeed, the Paschal Candle is often called the Christ Candle or the Easter Candle. Parents receive this smaller baptismal candle to take home and are encouraged to light it on their child’s baptism anniversary as a yearly remembrance. It beautifully symbolizes the light of Christ in our hearts and minds. 

We may think the light of Christ inside us is small, but we are called, mandated to share that light, and one of the ways to pass on our light is to encourage one another. As Paul modeled in writing so many letters to others, we are also called to connect with others who carry that light. That is why we have spiritual friends or sometimes a spiritual director.

When our light seems to dim, those in our lives who live in the light will lead us to the Paschal Candle, where we will once again find our light, often even brighter. We light the Paschal Candle during the Easter season, at Baptisms, and at funerals—all times when we want and need to be reminded of the light of Christ in our hearts, in others, and in the world.

Each time I meet with spiritual friends, I light a candle as they enter. This reminds me of how we share Christ’s light with one another. I find that I learn more from listening and talking with people than from what I can impart to them. We gather to see and encourage the light of Christ in one another. We meet solely to care for each other’s souls.

Joanna joannaseibert.com

Charleston, Tickle: We Are Not Done Yet

Charleston: Mentors and Community

Phyllis Tickle

"We are not done yet. We may measure our progress in inches. We may swim against the deep tides of greed and hate, but we are not done yet. Even if we do not live to see it all, we will be content to be an inspiration, to give all we have to free our world from fear."—Steven Charleston, Daily Facebook Page.

Bishop Charleston encourages us during difficult times when we feel discouraged. This is why God constantly calls us to community. We feel we have lost our connection to God when our lights are dim. We think we have accomplished nothing and believe we are failures.

Yet there are others in our community whose lights are on, more connected to God, and able to encourage and support us until we see a different picture. They are like Simon of Cyrene, briefly carrying our cross. They are like the paralytic's friends, lifting him through the rooftop to Jesus. Then, as we heal, it will be our turn to encourage. 

Often, people come for spiritual direction or meet with spiritual friends who have burned out or feel that their life or ministry is not accomplishing what they had hoped.

Our job as spiritual friends is to show each other where God is working in our lives and to keep inspiring one another, remembering that we may not see the results. Unfortunately, the results may be apparent much later, long after we have lived our lives and our names have been forgotten. 

As I grow older, I remember more vividly the people, including teachers, grandparents, co-workers, and friends, who encouraged, supported, and never gave up on me. Unfortunately, most of them are gone, so I can only thank them by trying to pay it forward and encouraging others as they did for me. 

Today, I share Jon Sweeney's biography of Phyllis Tickle, Phyllis Tickle, A Life, in which he describes how Phyllis was a major encourager for him, for me, and for many others. We will especially honor Phyllis next March, the month of her birthday (March 12).

Today, list the mentors who have helped us on this journey and the spiritual friends in our community who guide us when we cannot see the light. Honor them by sharing the light and love you learned from them with others.

Pass It On.

Joanna  https://www.joannaseibert.com/

Parker Palmer: Sanctuary

Parker Palmer: Seeking Sanctuary in Our Own Sacred Spaces

Through the red doors. St. Luke’s North Little Rock

“Sanctuary is wherever I find a safe space to regain my bearings, reclaim my soul, heal my wounds, and return to the world as a wounded healer. It’s not merely about finding shelter from the storm: it’s about spiritual survival. Today, seeking sanctuary is no more optional for me than church attendance was when I was a child.” Parker Palmer, “Seeking Sanctuary in our own sacred spaces,” On Being with Krista Tippett, September 14, 2016

We still read about churches, towns, and cities that are providing sanctuary to undocumented immigrants who now face deportation, including dreamers, many of whom have been working, living, and raising families in our country for years. Many were our healthcare workers who saved the lives of those we love during the past pandemic. They sought a better life for themselves and their families, and now fear losing all that is sacred to them.

Many who come to spiritual directors also seek a sanctuary for their sacred spaces, a spiritual life that once was vibrant but now may seem lost. They have lived and followed a road less traveled, but they have come to a spiritual fork in the road or perhaps a dead end. They fear they have lost the spiritual life they once had. They are now on a path that seems undocumented. Our ministry as spiritual friends is to be a sanctuary for the souls of those who seek our trust and guidance, especially when they feel isolated from their God connection. It can be a lonely time.

We must treat as sacred this precious part of all people, the presence of God within each of us, which we can sometimes see but which others may be blind to. We must never lose sight of the privilege or the awesomeness of being asked to care for the soul of another, especially at a vulnerable time. 

This is a sacred trust, a rare opportunity to make a difference, just as our churches, in years past and in years to come, have been places of sanctuary. I am told that the red doors of some of our churches are an ancient sign of sanctuary within. When we meet with a spiritual friend, may we imagine that we are sitting together just within the sanctuary of red doors? 

This also calls us to relate to other seekers in the world who need sanctuary at this time in their lives, both in prayer and in person, remembering that we are all seekers and often on an undocumented, uncharted path. We hope we will have the courage to stand, sit, sleep, work, eat, and pray beside all who need sanctuary within the red doors of our churches, minds, and hearts.

Camp Mitchell on Petit Jean Mountain, a Sanctuary, a Thin Place

Finding a sanctuary during these difficult times is essential for our minds, bodies, and souls.

Joanna Seibert. joannaseibert.com