The Bnei Yissaschar (Kislev 4:9) teaches that the miracles of Chanukah happen again each year. We aren't only commemorating a miracle that occurred in ancient times, millenniums ago. This is hinted in the Chazal (Masechta Sofrim 2:1), which says ישן בנר להדליק אסור, "It is forbidden to light [Chanukah lecht] in an old lamp." We aren't solely remembering the miracles of olden times but rather the miracles that occur now.
About Purim, Chazal (Megillah 17.) say, הקורא מגילה לא למפרע יצא. The Bnei Yissaschar repeats from his Rebbes, למפרע מגילה הקורא, if one reads the megillah like it was an episode that happened in the past, יצא לא, he didn't perform the mitzvah correctly. This is because the miracles of Purim aren't solely about something that happened in the past. Every generation has its Haman (or Hamans) who want to destroy us, r'l, and each year, Hashem saves us anew, in the merit of the mitzvah of reading Megillas Esther and all the other mitzvos we perform on Purim. We aren't only commemorating the past; we celebrate the salvations that Hashem grants us each year.
The Bnei Yissaschar says that something similar occurs with the Chanukah lecht. We aren't only commemorating a miracle of the past. When we light Chanukah lecht, the miracles recur. Thus, Chazal say, להדליק אסור ישן בנר, "It is forbidden to light in an old lamp." It isn't an "old lamp". It is salvation that is happening to us today.
This is because the miracles of Chanukah repeat themselves each year, and Klal Yisrael can receive many yeshuos and salvations, but we must make the connection. We have to create a הרכבה, connection, between the source of salvations so that it should come down to the entire Jewish nation.
The Gemara asks, מברך מאי, "How does one make this connection?" The Gemara replies וצונו, that we should become connected with Hashem. (The word צוונו can mean connect, as in צוותא). The Gemara continues, צוונו היכן, how does one connect with Hashem? The answer is ויגדך אביך שאל, ask the tzaddikim and follow in their way. Emulate their good deeds, do as they do, and you will be connected to Hashem and draw down the blessings and salvation of Chanukah.
