You will have heard the news of the horrific explosion in Beirut just weeks ago. In the midst of the devastation of the aftermath, there was a short report about Saint Dimitrios church, which is very close to the site of the blast.

The priest, Father Nassif, was only minutes away from the building when he heard the tremendous noise as the explosion happened. Entering the church to survey the damage, he first saw the rubble and chaos in the body of the church and then slowly realised that the altar had remained entirely intact – not only that but the oil lamp upon the altar remained lit. Father Nassif said: “In times of crisis, we search for signs, a light in the darkness.” This was a just a small sign of hope in the midst of all the destruction and suffering.

The symbol of light is meaningful for many people, particularly in times of challenge. The act of lighting a candle or lamp can convey significance, for example as a moment for remembrance or as a focus for stillness, reflection or prayer. At the beginning of lockdown, we were all encouraged to place candles in our windows to light up the darkness of those wintry days and symbolise hope in the midst of the global pandemic.

In John’s gospel we read that Jesus said: “I am the light of the world – whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” For Christians, Jesus is the eternal light bringing hope into the darkness, and we light candles in recognition of that hope and as a reminder of God’s presence with us in both the joy and the sorrow of these times.

Emma Kendall

Curate in the Milverton Benefice