THE LIGHT OF LIFE

(June 5)

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (Jn 8: 12)

We’ve been having long stretches of consecutive, rainy days, and I think that the lack of sunshine would be quite unbearable, so many “grey” days in a row, if the sun were the only or primary source of light in my world. But because certain good people, like my parents and others in their church-community passed on to me a light-filled faith in Christ, (because “it takes a village,” to form us in this beautiful faith), I do not “walk in darkness” or even “in greyness,” throughout these weeks of continuous rain.

Faith elevates us above and beyond the mundane, and even above and beyond the “natural” order of things, liberating us from the inevitability of, and bondage to, its greyness. When I embrace the light of Christ, and let Him enlighten my heart, by His Holy Spirit, I find myself liberated from the seeming inevitability and seeming meaninglessness of the “natural” order of things. In and with Him, “the light shines in the darkness,” however that darkness looks at any given moment of my life,” “and the darkness does not overcome it.” (Jn 1: 5) Today I have meaning and purpose, in communion with Christ, my primary Source of Light, amidst the darker changes in the weather, or even amidst my own changes in mood. And I don’t mean that I escape into some sort of delusion or denial, ignoring my real-time responsibilities, no. I mean that in Christ, I am enlightened to walk through my ups and downs, in the gentle realism that is His humility, on the cross-carrying journey. Thank You, Lord, for lighting up my little life, when I let You do that, amidst its ups and downs.