DAILY GRACE
May 6, 2020, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Scripture: John 12:44-50
Then Jesus cried aloud: ‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.’
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation
“I have come as light into the world. . . .”
Today’s Gospel focuses on one of John’s great themes —- light! This word has many facets: light is powerful yet gentle, explicit yet mysterious, common yet extraordinary. Jesus identifies himself with light: “I have come as light into the world.” This proclamation of Jesus’ mission communicates a powerful truth —- the radiance of Christ will deliver us from darkness and enlighten our journey in life.
I once read that the sun is a giant nuclear fireball radiating energy in all directions. This energy is made visible to the eye as rays of light. We can see everything around us because these rays reflect off objects and into our eyes. If the source of light were obstructed or removed, then the objects would disappear. They wouldn’t cease to exist, but they would disappear from our world of sight. Haven’t we all tripped over or run into something in a dark room?
Now Jesus announces: “I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.” Jesus is like the fireball, radiating energy in every direction — the energy of light and love that penetrates the heart of every person. When we receive this energy, our lives light up, and we ourselves reflect Christ to others.
But if we block out the light of Christ or dim it by our indifference, then the true meaning of life disappears. We continue to exist, but we walk in darkness. We are blinded and cannot see the many ways God reveals himself.
Yet even if we block God’s light, God will never cease to diffuse his radiant energy. God invites us to bask in this light. May it penetrate all our actions, and reflect the true light to anyone around us who may still wander in darkness and confusion.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are the Light of the World. Yet for some reason I block your light and fumble about in semidarkness as I try to understand what is happening around me. Enlighten my intellect, my desires, and my heart, so that I may follow your ways and walk in the brightness of your dawn.
Contemplation
In your light there is life.