THE LIGHT BIDS US CHANGE
Author: Fr. Michael Byron
March 13, 2021
A light shining in darkness can have a whole host of
meanings, depending upon one’s relationship to it. If someone is expecting guests to their home
for the evening, a light on at the front door can be a first expression of welcome
for the visitors.
But if the house is alarmed and a burglar shows up at night
to do harm, the very same light can serve as a warning, and the intended
message to the intruder can be, “get out of here now”. The same ambiguity is true in the world of
animals. Some insects like moths love to
see light in the dark, and they are attracted to it-often just before they are
killed by it. Other animals hate the
light and will run away from it, like bugs in your basement, or raccoons in the
park. Others, like deer, are
disorientated by light in the darkness- hence the expression, “deer in the
headlights”. The deer sees the light but
is frozen in place uncertain of what to do next.
So when we hear about Jesus being the light from God shining
into this world, that doesn’t have to mean exactly one thing. For some that is wonderful and attractive
news. For others it is frightening
news. For still others it is
bewildering. It all depends what we’re
up to when the light appears, and whether or not we want to be exposed by
it. To introduce light into a dark place
is to do nothing more than to reveal plainly what is already going on, and that
can be both good news and bad. In the
case of Jesus’ appearance to us, it’s both.
It is bad news to the extent that the light of Christ
confronts us with the truth of who and what we are as weak, sinful people,
forever being tempted by dishonesty, selfishness, pride, injustice,
heart-heartedness. It can be easy enough
to cope with that dimension of our lives by ignoring it or denying it or
finding some sort of diversion to cover it up.
That helps explain that seemingly odd remark of Jesus in the
gospel today about people preferring darkness even when they could choose the
light. To be exposed by the light in our
sinfulness is to be requested to change-and who really wants to do that? Yet, refusal to do that has eternal consequences. Jesus’ light exposes everything about
us- not just the good stuff. He speaks today about condemnation for those who
refuse to take to this light-or the truth about themselves seriously. And that condemnation is not merely something
that lies up ahead at the end of our lives. He tells us that such people are already condemned.
But all that is only half the story of God’s light given to
us in Jesus. Because this light reveals
not only the truth about ourselves, but also about God and how God feels
about us. And what God feels about us is
who God is: Love. Love that is stronger
than death. “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world might be saved through him. God so loved the world that he gave his only
son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have
eternal life”. (John3:16) That’s the
whole of the Christian gospel boiled down to a single verse. The light of Christ was sent here not only to
expose us, but to expose God.
And this light is intended not only to make us take a more
honest look at our condition and our behavior, but also to offer us a way out
of darkness, both here and now and ultimately in heaven. Jesus tells us that whoever believes in him
will not die, but will live with God forever.
So what does that mean, to “believe in him”? What does that require of us today? It means not merely to accept the concept of God’s love or to approve of the words of the Apostle’s Creed. It means to order our lives in a way that
reflects the fact that we actually believe that Jesus’ words and example are
true and are binding on all of us right now. It begins with repentance and conversion-that is, it begins with the
resolve to change: to become more just with others where that is lacking; more
forgiving where it is needed; more attentive to the common good, rather
than only to what I want; to be ready to suffer for the sake of doing/saying
what is true and right; and to extend compassion to others who suffer alongside
us.
In short, it is to emulate Jesus-to stand in his light and to
share it. That’s what it means to
“believe” in him, and that’s very practical.
We never earn our way to God simply by the good works that
we do, but there’s no such thing as true belief without them. As St. James so bluntly says in scriptures;
“faith without works is dead”. So, on
this 4th Sunday of Lent, let us welcome God’s light ever more completely
in to our hearts and our communities. May it both challenge and change us and at last reward us for all
eternity.
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