The Paschal Pillar of Fire

by David Haberstock

On Easter Eve, congregations introduce a new Paschal Candle. This is when the Church marks the beginning of the 2022^nd Year of our Lord (Revelation 11:15). 

About half the churches in Central Region have a Paschal candle. This was not always the case, and I remember when a Paschal candle was “reintroduced” into the parish of my youth. I put that in quotation marks because this ancient tradition was never really introduced to most North American Lutheran churches prior to this, although in recent decades many congregations have acquired one, even if they don’t know what to do with it. Traditions such as this are neither commanded nor forbidden by God, but are valuable as a means to confess and teach something about Jesus.

So what is a Paschal candle? What do you do with it? What does it teach us? 

The word “Paschal” comes from the Greek word “Pascha” which means Passover. This “Passover” candle is a very tall, freestanding, white candle with several symbols for Christ Jesus on it, set in a candle stand meant just for it.

Not knowing what they represent, people often invent their own practices related to Paschal candles, but here is what I have learned.

It is lit for 40 days from Easter Eve (Easter Vigil) until the Feast of the Ascension (Acts 1:3). On Ascension, it is extinguished and removed after the words of the Gospel, “He was taken up into heaven” (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51) have been read. Thus, it represents Jesus’ physical presence on earth for the 40 days from His resurrection until His ascent into heaven. 

The height of this candle reminds us that Jesus—before taking on flesh—was present with the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22). Our risen Lord Jesus is the new “Pillar of Fire” who protects us as we sojourn in this dark world and leads us into His new promised land. Another reason it is so very tall is that it is meant to burn day and night for 40 days. I’ve tried in a couple parishes to burn it day and night, but—go figure—there is a lot of concern about the safety of an untended candle in modern church buildings. 

The Paschal Candle teaches us then that Christ is with us in every moment of our lives—from the new birth of water and the Spirit, shepherding us through death and the grave, and unto our resurrected life in His eternal sheepfold in which He Himself is our light (Revelation 21:23-25).

Not knowing what they represent, people often invent their own practices related to Paschal candles, but here is what I have learned. 

If you burn this tall candle for 40 days, it is no longer so tall. Thus, a new candle is needed in the new year of grace. The Ascension and this candle memorialize Christ’s coronation at the right hand of His Father (Revelation 4-5). While lit, it is a visible reminder of Christ’s miraculous presence with us. Throughout the rest of the year, we light it only at baptisms and funerals, reminding us that life and death are in His hands.

At Holy Baptism, a baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal candle and given to the newly baptized with the words, “Live always in the light of Christ, and be ever watchful for His coming, that you may meet Him with joy and enter with Him into the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which shall have no end.” For Jesus—the Paschal Pillar—is the Light of the World (John 8:12). In Holy Baptism, He passes over sin (Exodus 12:12-13), and imparts His light, driving out the forces of darkness. Thus, it is good to keep the candle near the font when it is not lit.

It is also lit at funerals because “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). It is Jesus Christ Himself who keeps vigil with us in the long hours of our pilgrimage through this vale of tears (Psalm 84:6). He is the one who watches over and shepherds us through the shadow of death with the light of His word (Psalm 23:4; 119:105). This is why the Agenda for the Lutheran Service Book directs that the lit Paschal candle be placed at the head of the casket during a funeral; Christ shepherds us in death as in life.

The Paschal Candle teaches us then that Christ is with us in every moment of our lives—from the new birth of water and the Spirit, shepherding us through death and the grave, and unto our resurrected life in His eternal sheepfold in which He Himself is our light (Revelation 21:23-25).

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Rev. David Haberstock is Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s Central Regional Pastor.

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