Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Well for me, it brings to mind the Old Testament and how, in the Tabernacle and in the Temples, they had flaems burning to take the prayers of the living to heaven. Burning sacrifices to send the essence to the Lord was also common place. Later (New Testament) the scriptures say things like a candle that is set under a bush cannot be seen, and that we must put our light where all men can see it, up on a hill. To me, that seems to indicate again that we shouldn't hide our faith. We shouldn't pray for others to see, but we also shouldn't hide it.Now, in the case of someone dying, it could symbolize the prayers of the people still on Earth. We did that once with one of my friends who had passed on, and seeing that there were so many candles lit against the darkness remembering her brought a feeling of peace that none of us were alone in missing her. It could symbolize the lives left behind who say goodbye. It could symbolize the determination of the people behind not to hide their memory. It could symbolize how memories can warm someone, when enough of them are shared. I've heard it described as remembering the light of their spirit and how eventually we will all meet again. A symbol really only means something to the people involved in it, and if you like one meaning of a symbol and not another then you can easily adopt it. But from a Christian standpoint, we have scriptures that reference lighting a light and the connection between a candle burning and prayers to heaven.
