Beyond Electronic Candles

The Task

Find a church somewhere and light my candle of thanksgiving and prayer. That was number one on my “To do” list as I embarked on my first trip outside the country, another continent at that. I was going to Melbourne, Australia for two weeks. The thought of me flying more than ten (10) hours already scared me. More so, that I was travelling alone and I had to go past Hongkong too.

The trip was far from perfect but it was more comfortable and easy than I expected. All the more I felt I needed to fulfill the urge to do my number one task. I had so much to be thankful for. However, we had to wait for days before I could do just that. Unlike in the Philippines while most churches are open during weekdays and the Blessed Sacrament chapel welcomes everyone in prayer, churches there are open only mostly on weekends. I attended mass at a nearby church the Sunday after I came and I felt really connected to my family and my country as well. I was just so happy to do the candle lighting.

The Confusion

“Place your donation and click on the button to light the candle.” I asked myself if this was the place I had to light the candle but I found no other place in sight. So I placed my donation, click on the button and the electronic candle lighted. I said my prayers and still felt God’s presence amidst my confusion.

The Realization

On my way home, I was struggling with the thought of lighting my candles the way I do in the Philippines. Strike the match, light the long brown stick, pass the flame to the wick of the candle, blow the flame on the stick, watch my candle’s flame and say my prayers. Watching the flame go up I also felt my prayers went with it. And even as I leave, I make sure my candles are still lit so prayers are continued even if I’m no longer there. Lighting the electronic candles however did not remove from me the feeling of communicating to God in prayer. I felt God’s presence just the same. My confusion has made me realized a few things:


1. Wherever we go, there will always be an urge to connect to some greater power.

We may have different ways of expressing our faith, we all have the same goal: to be connected to a power greater than us. A power that guides us, protects us and makes us one. Electronic or not, the candles are there to remind us of God’s presence and our need to communicate with him in our own unique way.

2. Our God, is the God of our times.

Jesus spoke in parables during his time. He was talking about the sower, the fishermen, the Pharisees and other relevant activities of that time. If Jesus came today, would it be logical for him to talk about the same things to be able to convey his message? I think not. Rather, he would proclaim using the issues of our times. Electronic or not, the light on the candle represents God’s faithful presence guiding us throughout the course of history.

God became man. He came to be one of us. Now that answers my confusion. My ritual was not relevant at that time but another ritual was. It may be different but still the same. God still hears my prayers, loves and accepts me as I am. Electronic or not, my candles are lit.

The challenge is on me now. How can I be a light to others? Regardless of what I am made of, I have the capacity to be light and to bring light. Good or bad, I am equipped with a heart that is capable to love and hands capable to help. It all lies in my willingness to receive the flame from the lighted brown stick or just the push of the button. May God continue to bless me on my journey, in my struggle of being a light to others.