Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” 

Gospel Reading: John 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

Darkness envelopes the world through our sin and rejection of God, but Jesus came into the world to bring us the light to free us from this darkness.  He came not to condemn us to eternal darkness, but to bring us into eternal light.  In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us that those who reject him, judge themselves.  It is n their rejection of the word of God that they define their eternal damnation.  By rejecting Jesus Christ, one rejects the very truth of our existence.  One denies the reason why God created us.  God created us in his image and likeness.  Adam and Eve allowed Satan to convince them otherwise.  Satan said, “If you want to be like God, you need to eat this fruit.”  We were already created in his image and likeness.  We were created to be in full communion with him and to be part of him.  Yet our first parents rejected that and separated themselves from God.  Because of their actions, they hid from him.  Since they rejected him, they separated themselves from him.  This is the same thing that happens to us when we reject him; we are no longer in communion with God.  However, God loves us so much, he sent his son to us to reveal the eternal light.

To be in communion with Christ is to be in communion with eternal life.  He came to guide us to the narrow gate which leads to eternal life; “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Ps 27).  It is through Jesus Christ’s message that we find God and we find eternal life.  Christ, the light of the world, reveals the hidden truth.  Through our faith in Christ, we can see God’s kingdom.  Through our faith the kingdom of God is revealed to us today.  Jesus makes it quite clear, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.”  Light is a necessary part of life.  Without it, there is no life.  The light of Christ not only reveals what is hidden, it also enables us to grow and be nourished in the faith.  Life would not exist without light.  Everything would die and wither away.  Through Christ, the living light shines upon us.  If we do not seek the word of God, we chose to remain in the darkness.  In the darkness, sin will consume us and we will become spiritually dead.  The light of Christ is like being kept in a small dark room and them walking out into the glorious sunlight.  When you enter the sunlight, you immediately feel the warmth of the sun and the sensation of joy overwhelms the body.  You immediately feel a sense of freedom and you are instantly revitalized.  This is the same feeling one experiences when they walk into the light of Christ.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, Show me the light and the way.

I seek you in the darkness that surrounds me.

Give me hope and salvation as I find true glory in your words.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon